Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Cypress Grill Celebrates 75th Anniversary

From the Cypress Grill
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The Cypress Grill will celebrate its 75th anniversary on Sunday May 29, 2011 from noon to midnight at 1265 South Main St. In attendance will be recently retired waitress Helen Janoscak, who worked at the restaurant continuously from 1939 to 2009. There will live music, reduced price food and drink specials. This is a family friendly event.
We are so excited to take this day to share our restaurant’s history with
the people of Connecticut. Middletown has been the only home we have
ever known and it has been our family’s pleasure to serve our friends and
neighbors for all these years.
” –Jim and Joe Carta (Co-owners)

The Cypress Grill was first opened by the Carta family on Saturday, May 30, 1936 as a small, one room diner. At one time Route 15 (now Route 17) was one of the main connecting roads between Boston and New York. As a result, every weekend the
Cypress served approximately 240 customers in 20 minutes continuously.

In 1940, a combination dining room and bar was added, which would eventually provide weekend dancing. In 1941, the new tap room was added. During this time it was not uncommon for the Cypress to accommodate such renowned celebrities as Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey and their band, Benny Goodman, Blanche and Cab Calloway, Lawrence Welk, the incomparable Tony Pastor on their way to or from a performance. Many past Connecticut governors, Eleanor Roosevelt and other political dignitaries frequently made the Cypress their regular stop.

To this day, the Cypress proudly serves delicious food to diverse celebrities ranging from director Martin Scorsese and actors Alan Alda and Bradley Whitford as well as our
“regulars”.

More information is available by calling (860) 346-3367

3 comments:

Cathy said...

A wonderful establishment! A landmark in Middletown! Worth celebrating after 75 years! Congratulations to Joe and Jim Carta and to their staff who are as great as the owners are.

Anonymous said...

There is something to be celebrated for history and longevity, but should we also be celebrating the "watering hole" aspect contributing to who knows how many drunk drivers?

Anonymous said...

To Anon why dont you go to the police if you have evidence of something improper or go write a letter to the editor if you have a beef about "watering holes" and drunk driving. Express your concerns in the proper place and stop pissing on another's celebration.