Eye on Oswego

By Ken Sturtz
Editor-in-Chief 

The last remnants of Club Crystal, the notorious nightclub that polarized a community, were carted away Monday afternoon. 

Dozens of buyers packed the first floor of the three-story bar, which had a troubled history of liquor violations, for an auction. 
 
Crystal DiGregorio looked on as Brzostek’s Auction Service sold off the contents of her bar. The bidding shifted back and forth between bar and restaurant owners battling for big ticket items, and bargain hunters vying for smaller deals. 
     
From a neon ‘Open’ sign hanging in the window ($60) and rotating Disco balls ($17.50 each), to electronic cash register systems ($2,500) and a deep fryer unit ($1,250), virtually everything, including several sinks was sold in less than two hours. 
         
The auction easily netted thousands of dollars for DiGregorio, who seemed more an unwilling bystander than a departing club owner. 
            
The bar’s 17-camera closed-circuit security system ($1,000) and ID scanner ($70) sold quickly. 
            
DiGregorio, 28, touted the scanner and security system as a way to bar underage drinkers and keep order. The technology, however, proved unsuccessful in preventing a steady flow of liquor violations and visits by police. 
             
Club Crystal shuttered its doors in September 2011 after the state’s Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control revoked the establishment’s liquor license and issued multiple fines. The club had been dealing with around 17 liquor violations stretching back to as early as 2007 and had already had its license suspended in January 2011.
           
Liquor Authority officials at the time described Club Crystal’s record of liquor violations as atrocious.   
             
DiGregorio would not have been allowed to hold a liquor license for two years.
             
The dance club was originally modeled after the “Coyote Ugly” theme and sported bar top dancers. The “Club Crystal Girls” were meant to give the club a
New York City feel. There was even talk of a Club Crystal reality television show based on DiGregorio’s life. A rough cut of a pilot appeared online, but the
project never came to fruition. 
             
With cobwebs forming on the stage lighting and the 2,000-square foot dance floor empty, DiGregorio now plans to sell the property. The nightclub, which employed 25 people, occupied the old Ferris Wheel Tavern across from Old City Hall. 
             
The property is assessed at $140,000 and its prominent location near other bars on Water Street means it will likely continue to be used as a bar of some sort in the future. 
             
DiGregorio has talked about moving back to California. The Oswego High School alumna originally gained prominence as a model and adult film star while living in the Golden State.
             
According to property records, DiGregorio and ex-husband Jon Hoffman still own a 3,400-square foot home at 6 Elizabeth Street, Oswego, assessed at
$255,000. Property records also indicate Gregorio owns a 1,400-square foot home in Palmdale, CA. 

Below is a small, unofficial sampling of the contents and what they sold for: 

-Neon ‘Open’ sign- $70 
-‘ATM/Cash’ sign- $22.50 
-Metal box fan- $1 
-Red Bull cooler- $70 
-Electronic cash register systems-$2,500
-Sliding door beer coolers- $600 each
-Leather sofas- $500 each
-Champagne buckets- $22.50, $10 
-Various speakers- $750 
-15 pink bar stools- $280 
-ID camera- $70
-Deep fryer unit- $1,250
-17-camera security system- $1,000
-Stainless steel preparation table- $275
-Large jugs of hot sauce- $5
-Speakers- $625
-Hanging speakers- $650 
-Stage lighting- $300
-Rotating Disco balls- $17.50 each
-Glass door cooler- $375