Legendary Winter Haven Restaurateur Nicholas “Nick” Christy, 91, died on Monday, March 22. Christy came to Winter Haven in the early 1950s and purchased what was then called the Sundown Restaurant. He brought his own special flair and Greek influence to a menu that made the establishment one of the most famous and popular in the Central Florida area.
Services for Mr. Christy will take place at St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, 2010. The church is located at 1030 Bradbury Road, Winter Haven. (This is a change from previously announced graveside services.)
Share your memories of Nick or the restaurant … comment below.
Pictured left Christy serves Marilyn Van Derbur, Miss America 1958, one of many pageant winners that visited the restaurant while appearing at Cypress Gardens.
My Uncle Nick was a wonderful generous man who always hada great story to tell. God rest his soul. Fr John Pilafas, his nephew Chicago Illinois
Memories from childhood to adolescence to adulthood include so many visits to Christy’s. Always friendly greetings, impeccable service, delicious meals. I can hear Nick greeting the angels with “How ya doin’?” and making THEM feel welcome.
Mr. Christy, you are one of a kind and we miss you.
How ya doin’? We will miss you Nick Christy.
Dear Nick, How we will all miss you! You were such an ambassador for our fair city!You are missed already! May you rest in peace! Love and sympathy to Ann, Tony and the grand kids, too.
What a loss! Mr. Christy was a wonderful man and great business man. He insisted on feeding my son a huge hot fudge sundae (BEFORE dinner) several times. Any wonder why that kid loved going to Christy’s? Bless the Christy family.
Nick was a treasure and it is hard to think
of Winter Haven without remembering him and
Christy’s Sundown.
Nick always celebrated life to the fullest. We will all miss his charm and ability to make us smile…
Nick Christy will be remembered fondly by many. Christy’s Sundown was my favorite place to eat…especially the freshly baked Banana Coconut Cream Pie…..My mother worked for him at his restaurant for several years and always spoke very highly of him. He had a wonderful vision in Christy’s Sundown and I especially liked all the pictures of the famous stars in the waiting area…..He left some really good memories!
My Uncle Nick was such a kind and generous person, I remember when I was a child, he would always have a cigar and with his deep voice say, how ya doing kid ? He then would pinch my cheeks and give me a big bear hug and a kiss. They don’t make many people like my Uncle anymore, people are too busy to be kind to a stranger or give them a big smile. My uncle made everyone feel so special and I will miss that.I know he is now with his family and his beloved Grandson Nicholas. I know he is smiling down on his wonderful wife, Aunt Ann, and saying I’m just fine now. Don’t weep for me, for I am in the presence of God almighty, and he takes all sorrow and sickness away.But we who are left behind, will miss you so and until we are all together again, rest our beloved uncle, our Orthodox Brother. Love, Elaine Pilafas-Geschke Altanta, Georgia
Ann, I am so sorry for your loss. We all really like Nick! You are in my thoughts and prayers. Lynn at Lanier Upshaw
Nick Christy was one of those memorable people that you meet in life, whose presence made everyone a little bit happier. I am sad to hear of his passing, but I am happy to know that his Restaraunt will continue under the ownership and guidance of Fred Johnson as a lasting tribute to his memory and all of the great memories shared by his many friends and customers.
Marc Burnett
I will miss the time you would take to stop by the table and squeeze in for a quick story and always a laugh. My lady friends enjoyed the flowers you gave them and always made them feel special.
Any one that ever met Nick Christy (my uncle and my namesake) never forgot him, always friendly and quick with his standard greeting “How you doin” he made everyone feel welcome. All you had to do was walk into the Sundown Restaurant and you were a friend, but if you walked in as a result of being sent there by one of his friends or better yet one of his brothers, well you were treated as family. He was bigger than life and a characture of himself. I will certainly miss Uncle Nick and the great stories that he would tell (uncensored…lol) which always led to corrections by one or all of his brothers that happened to be present at the time. He loved life and lived it, God Bless Him.
Nick Christopulos
Uncle Nick, although a cowboy from Wyoming, had a persona that smacked of an East-coast “connected” guy. Although his voice was unmistakeable, he would often call on the telephone with his trademark, “How ya’ doin’?” and then proceed to query, “Do you know who this is?” The best prank I ever played was calling the restaurant, when I was staying with Aunt Ann and Uncle Nick in Winterhaven, and asking for Uncle Nick while impersonating his voice. The poor gal at the restaurant was so confused because she thought I was Uncle Nick messing with her. I finally had to switch to my own voice so that she would actually find him and put him on the phone. He also kept us in stitches with his stories and he had a heart to match his larger-than-life persona. We will all miss him! May his memory be eternal!
Dan Christopulos
Minneapolis
This was my Godfather. He was a kind sweet man with a heart of gold. I can remember as a young boy looking up to him because he had a real showman ship quality about himself. That’s what set Nick apart from the other Restaurant owners in the area. People always wanted to go and see Nick. Restaurant owners of today should have taken notes because Nick always did it right. A true personality and he will be missed by all. What a great Godfather.
When I think of our beloved Uncle Nick, of course the bigger than life descriptors just have to come to mind: The Mafioso, “How you doin?”; The cigar, either in mouth or between fingers: the “somewhat” colorful language; his whistle; to name a few. All of these serve to confirm that he indeed was a character. They provide the context for Nick ‘Christopulos’, A.K.A., ‘Christy’. and of course there are the countless colorful stories or escapades of the ‘earlier’ years that we heard again and again throughout the years. But my most important and heart touching memories have to do with his kindness and generosity. When I was 15 years old, Aunt Ann and Uncle Nick flew me down to Winter Haven for Spring Training when the Red Sox were still there. I met all of the Red Sox who frequented the Sundown and even ate dinner with Uncle Nick, Aunt Ann and Anthony at their good friend Carl Yastrzemski’s house with Yaz and his wife and children. I thought I had died and gone to heaven! It was the best vacation of my life well into my adulthood. I was treated like a prince. Underneath his bigger than life demeanor was an incredibly kind and generous soul who would and often did do anything for anybody. There are stories after stories of his (and Aunt Ann’s) kindness and help of others. Uncle Nick we will all miss you terribly but we will all remember you with a deep love and appreciation. May his memory be eternal and may he have a special place in the loving and compassionate arms of our Lord.
Lou (Fr. Lou) Christopulos
Denver
A chuckle and a smile, that is an automatic whenever I think of my Uncle Nick. I don’t think he ever realized how funny he was, how captivating his stories were, or how big and generous his heart was. I for one could sit and listen to story after story over and over again and never tire. They say that laughter is the best medicine and Uncle Nick always gave you the full dose! His whistles, facial expressions, “colorful language” and the infamous “how ya doin” set him apart from everyone else. He was so kind and thoughtful when my husband passed away 3 1/2 years ago. He would call my dad (Tony) daily to see how I was doing. He was bigger than life and enjoyed life to the fullest! All that knew and loved him will miss him terribly.
There is one story that is a “classic” Uncle Nick story. When all of the Christopulos’s were in Wyoming for the last reunion my dad had gone to the liquor store in Cheyenne. My dad saw Uncle Nick talking to someone and approached him. He was talking to him and I believe my dad asked him for directions. The entire time Uncle Nick had no idea who my dad was! Finally my dad said Nick don’t you know who I am, it’s your brother Tony. That story was told over and over again.
His memory will live on. God Bless you Uncle Nick.
Laura Bonamarte
Christy’s is where I met my husband 14 years ago. We always went there for our anniversary. Mr. Christy was always very nice to us. We will miss him. Christy’s was a great a place with great food. A lot has come and gone but there will never be anything to take its place. A lot of history there. Thank you, Jeannette
Nick:
May God Bless and give you eternal rest. My family has had many a wonderful meal at Christy’s………We miss you!!!!!!!!!
Blessed Be Nick!
Thank you for always providing a warm & welcoming place for our community.
Fond Memories:
I had the phone number to the Sundown memorized because I could often find my mother Selma there with friends.
Coconut Cream Pie
Shirley Temples
Cold Prime rib w/greek salad for lunch
Greek Spaghetti
Lobster Thermadore
Being sent to the bar from the VIP room after an extended bridal luncheon for the girls – we were making too much noise ! :)
Thanks for providing the cornerstone for many happy memories Nick
Oh & 1 more. My mother NEVER letting me order the PB&J from the kids menu.