A look of scorn and a sweeping wave of dismissal spoke volumes.

As it turns out, however, the Greece-born owner of Ted’s Liquors had a two-week-long bash with hundreds of the store’s beloved neighbors and customers, reminiscing about its 87 years as a fixture in Omaha’s Florence neighborhood.

Many of them had been stopping at Ted’s at least once a week over the past several decades for visits after work and on weekends.

“We party every day with the customers,” Sam’s wife, Maria, said recently a few days before the store closed.

Sam worked at Ted’s for 67 years, ever since arriving from Greece to join his uncle Ted Ganaros in the business that began in 1936 with a store and restaurant near the Mormon Bridge and later moved south to its final home near 30th and State streets. In addition to the restaurant, which closed in 1983, Ted also added a motel to the property. It’s now an apartment building.

When he got here, Sam didn’t know any English and had $30 in his pocket. He obtained U.S. citizenship five years after immigrating, eventually became the business owner and put two kids through college.

Daughter Christina Piperis of Omaha said her dad is a man of few words, “very stoic and very serious.”

But he’s animated — and adamant — when he talks about his adopted home.

“This country,” he said, “has been good to me. I appreciate (that) every minute.”

He repeated that sentiment several times during a reporter’s hourlong visit to Ted’s.

Being an immigrant wasn’t easy, Piperis said. Sam left a country that was reeling from World War II and the trip to New York City took 10 days. And, she said, the language barrier was difficult, and Greeks weren’t always welcomed.

But both Sam and his uncle were warmly accepted in Omaha, she said, and her dad has been grateful ever since. Through the store, Sam has met public officials, doctors, lawyers, police officers, doctors, truck drivers, construction workers, millionaires and people from countless other walks of life.

He heard from many of the people he has touched — names familiar and obscure — after Piperis posted news of Ted’s closure on social media. She said scores of people have visited the store and even more have put tributes to her dad on Facebook.

“It was unbelievable seeing these families come in, generations of people who had gone to Ted’s,” she said. “I have so many pictures of hugs and tears.”

Omahan Rex Fuller was among those present last week. He said he first came to Ted’s on a whim, hit it off with Sam and Maria, and started visiting every day after work and on Saturdays.

“He’s like my adopted grandpa,” said Fuller, speaking around a lump in his throat. “It’s gonna be tough when they are gone.”

Like Fuller, Marcus Bryson lives in the neighborhood and frequently stops by. He said he grew up in Florence and first came to the store as a kid on his bike to buy candy.

“Do you mind if I give you guys a hug before I go,” Bryson asked the owners, and they all embraced.

Godfather’s Pizza founder Willy Theisen is a new friend. He came to Ted’s a couple of weeks ago after reading Sam’s inspiring immigration story on social media.

“Are you Sam, the guy who came to this country with $30 in his pocket?” he asked the proprietor, “That’s why I came here, to meet that guy.”

A couple who had their wedding reception at the former Ted’s Steakhouse next door came to offer good wishes, as did many people who said they bought their first beer at Ted’s on the day they turned 21.

During a recent family gathering at the store, Omaha City Council President Pete Festersen came by to read a “Sam Koliopoulos Day” proclamation, and the entire clan ended the day at the Surfside Club near Ponca Hills, where the wait staff had their own Ted’s stories.

Piperis said her dad has an amazing work ethic. He was at the store from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week. She said he also has an enduring empathy that he developed as a struggling immigrant.

“He helped many people along the way. If they had no money, he wouldn’t charge them. He understood people’s hardships,” she said.

People give back. When Sam returned to the store after heart surgery, customers helped him take out garbage and stock the cooler.

Sam said he’s “too old” to have many plans for retirement. He’ll turn 90 in January.

His daughter said he doesn’t really want to quit — “everyone else dreads work and he loves work” — but he knows it’s time.

He’ll still get to spend time at the former Ted’s. The family is leasing the building to a vape shop, Piperis said. The lessees say Sam is welcome to spend time there whenever he wants to. She also said he might hang out at Jim and Jennie’s Greek Village — Maria’s brother is the owner there.

And he has a rich and rewarding life to reflect on.

“The American dream really did come true for him,” his daughter said.