A recognizable figure behind the bar at Sam's Uptown Café on Capitol Street, Paul Greco tended bar there, managed the place and ended up buying it. The New York native, a bass player, also owns the Boulevard Tavern.

"Joey's was a hard job to get. ...

... They hadn't hired a bartender off the street in 15 years. ...

... It was cool to get in there."

A photo from Paul Greco's 1982 yearbook at Holland Patent High School in New York shows him in what he calls his "rebellious" stage.

9.25x6.93 GRECO1 bar owner Paul Greco at Sam's Downtown. INNERVIEWS photo by chris dorst