Christo's Brockton is Gone, Christo's to Go Arrives in Whitman, Mass.

Christo's in Brockton, Mass., had been a local dining legend for more than four decades. Some called it "Cheers South" -- South of Boston's version of the famous Boston restaurant.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mike Dukakis once dubbed Christo's "The Greek Salad King." Thousands of customers each week called Christo's their "go-to" local restaurant. I personally remember family gatherings -- whether it be for happy times like birthdays and Mothers Day or  for sadder times when loved ones gathered after a funeral. Christo's just seemed like a best friend -- loyal, committed and friendly.

The Greek salads, famous salad dressing, baked lamb, bar-style pizzas, the large four color coded rooms (especially the Gold Room with that huge golden floor-to-ceiling fountain), and the welcoming day and night presence of late owner Christos Tsaganis helped shape Christo's one-of-a-kind restaurant personality. Unfortunately, family chose not to continue operating Christo's not too long after Tsaganis' passing, and the announcement to close Christo's came as a shock for many who thought it would be around forever..

Massasoit Community College recently bought the property and will be building a new Allied Health and Science Building. Great for academia, bad for our Christo's embedded taste buds.

Although this fabled of version of Christo's is gone forever, all is not lost. Recently, owners Gigi Johnson and Maria Samson -- daughters of Tsaganis -- opened Christo's to Go in Whitman, Mass. Clearly a fraction of the size of Christo's and strictly take-out, the look is still familiar with about 20 former Christo's employees, and signature dishes like the Greek salads, famous salad dressing, baked lamb and bar-style pizzas still there to please the local public.

You won't find any larger-than-life Gold Room fountains, or 450 seat environs, but hopefully the magic remains in what Christo's did best: serve consistently good Greek-American fare that made the former East Side restaurant a wonderful tradition for so many years. Stay tuned for dining reviews here, as, over time, I get to sample Christo's to Go.

Christo's to Go is located at 785 Bedford St., Whitman MA. Tel. (781) 523-7932

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Fun at the Brockton Rox Game And A Surprise Visit on the Way...

We truly enjoyed the Brockton Rox doubleheader last night at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, Mass. The stadium is like a miniature Fenway Park -- intimate and full of passionate baseball fans with Boston accents. There's not a bad seat in the house, the concession stands are well-organized and serve all the basics (hot dogs, popcorn, burgers, etc.) and the restrooms are kept clean. The price to watch these well-played Canadian- American Association of Professional Ball minor league games is impressive, too: $5.00 for grandstand seats, $7.50 for reserved seating, $9.50 for box and $15.00 for a "superbox."

 After the game, there was a great fireworks display -- what a nice way to end the evening!

We also heard a PA announcement that Bill Lee, the 1970s era Boston Red Sox pitcher with quite a colorful personality (and with some real pitching talent, too!) will join the club as the team’s starting pitcher for the game on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 1:05 p.m. against the Worcester Tornadoes. Amazing, Lee is 63-years-old!


Here is the Brockton Rox official press release:


BILL LEE TO PITCH FOR ROX SEPTEMBER 5

08/16/2010 8:08 AM

Brockton, Mass. – The Brockton Rox of the Can-Am League announced on Monday that former Boston Red Sox and Montreal Expos lefthanded hurler Bill Lee (pictured) will join the club as the team’s starting pitcher for the game on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 1:05 p.m. against the Worcester Tornadoes. One of the best southpaws in club history, Lee pitched for the Red Sox from 1969 through 1978, and owns the franchise record for games pitched by a lefthander with 321. The native of Burbank, Calif., won 17 games each season from 1973 to 1975, was selected to the 1973 American League All-Star team, and was a member of the 1975 American League champions. He was traded to the Expos in 1979, where he won 16 games in the first of his four seasons there. Lee currently lives in Vermont and pitches over 200 innings per year in over-40 men’s leagues in New England and Atlantic Canada. One of baseball’s more colorful personalities during his playing days, he has also published four books, and owns his own bat company which provides lumber for major league players, including David Ortiz. He was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2008. "Having Bill join us will be a great way to cap off our regular season," team president Chris Carminucci said. "He can still get hitters out, and having a New England baseball legend in the house should make it a great Sunday afternoon for Rox fans." Tickets for the game are available through the Rox box office by calling (508) 559-7070, or online through brocktonrox.com.

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