California man, 99, is Nordstrom's only greeter

ARCADIA, Calif., July 16 (UPI) -- The manager of a California Nordstrom department store that employs the chain's only greeter said the 99-year-old man makes the store "a fun place to be."

Ted DiNunzio, who will celebrate his 100th birthday in December, has worked as a greeter at the Arcadia Nordstrom for 14 years and a corporate spokesman said DiNunzio is the only greeter at any of Nordstrom's 248 locations, ABC News reported Tuesday.

DiNunzio said he was hired at the store after becoming a regular during his retirement.

"I was retired and I would go in the store every day and talk to the boys and have conversations and all that," he said.

Eventually, the manager took him out for coffee and offered him a job as a greeter at the store on Fridays and Saturdays.

"It's very nice," he said of his job. "All the people who come in know me and give me a hug."

"A lot of children come up to me and ask if they can give me a hug," he said. "Girls who grew up in the store and go to college come back and say, 'I remember you from when I was a little girl.' I make a lot of new friends."

Nordstrom store manager Marcille Hughes said DiNunzio is a valuable member of the store's team.

"He just makes this place a fun place to be," Hughes said. "If he's not here, they will absolutely make a call to me or they'll go to customer service. They are always concerned."

DiNunzio said his positive attitude has likely contributed to the length of his life.

"I smile at everybody," he said. "I say hello to everybody, even when I'm walking outside, out on the street."