WATERTOWN â For the first time in two years, the neon sign on the Crystal Restaurant is back where it belongs.
The iconic sign has been gone while the exterior of the cityâs oldest restaurant underwent a major facelift.
While that work on the building is nearly done, the sign finally returned Monday to the 85-87 Public Square buildingâs exterior.
Co-owner Peter Dephtereos, whose family has operated the restaurant for decades, has not seen it yet. He has been in Colorado and will finally see it for the first time Tuesday when he returns home. But his brother emailed photos of the sign Monday.
The makeover of the iconic Crystal Restaurantâs exterior on Public Square is nearly finished.
âItâs almost done,â said co-owner Libby Dephtereos, whose husbandâs family has operated the restaurant for decades. âWeâre close. It looks beautiful.â
Earlier this week, a contractor revealed the restaurantâs new black tiling exterior after some plywood was taken down in front of the building, 85-87 Public Square.
For months, the black tiling work was hidden from view while a construction crew worked behind a plywood box to get the tiling placed on the building.
Restoring the restaurantâs historic neon sign is also part of a major facelift.