McCook's Candy Man, Alex Gochis

Alex Gochis

During the 1930s there were wonderful Greek restaurants in most of the hub cities across Nebraska. Norfolk and Fremont, in Northeast Nebraska, each had a "Greek" restaurant. As a child I always looked forward to a trip to Norfolk, because my family invariably stopped to have a sandwich and fountain treat at "Traynos" restaurant. My wife, Jean tells a similar story about her family's trips to Fremont, where the restaurant of choice was "Petros" restaurant. Both of these establishments had a great menu of sandwiches, a fine soda fountain, which featured ice cream made in their store, a line of hand-dipped chocolates, and a variety of hard candies.

Indianola, Gothenburg, and North Platte had their own Greek restaurants, and McCook's favorite Greek was Alex Gochis, who ran the Olympia Café, by the Burlington Depot. The Olympia was a sweet shop, the source of innumerable childhood memories. People could get special treats at the Olympia that were not available at other restaurants in McCook and area towns.

Alex Gochis was born in a small, remote village south of Athens in 1897. He had many brothers and sisters, and the family was "dirt" poor -- which described the plight of almost everyone in his village. Years later, in 1965, Alex took his grandson, Mike Gilbert, on a trip to Greece to see his family home. He could scarcely believe that the house they pointed out could be the one where he grew up -- barely 12'X12" -- "How did we all manage to live in such a small house?" he repeated over and over.

Alex still had a sister living at the time of their trip, and this lady was thrilled to have Alex and Mike meet other relatives. Though they were poor, they shared what they had with the Americans, and made them feel very welcome. When Alex left he emptied his billfold of all his Greek money and distributed it among the relatives. The bill he gave his sister was worth about $10 -- the largest bill that the sister had ever had.

As a youth, Alex devoured stories about America in his history books, and was intrigued by the opportunities that were available in America. He liked the stories of boys who started with nothing, but were able to become successful in America. He was determined that he would be one boy who would someday own his own business.

In 1910, when Alex was but 13, he made the trip to America, by himself! When he arrived in New York City he spoke only a few words of English, and was virtually penniless. But he was rich with ambition. He caught on immediately with the railroad, as a water boy. He saved his pennies, and, on the advice of one of the workmen, made his way to Kansas City, where he worked as a bus boy in a hotel. He was a bright young fellow, and had a thirst for learning. His position in the hotel allowed him to talk with people and to begin to pick up the English language.

On the advice of one of the other workers, Alex moved west again, this time to Alliance, Neb., where he took a job in a drug store. He proved to be a good worker, very reliable and soon was made manager of the store's soda fountain. In the evenings, using borrowed books from the library, he taught himself the complexities of the English language, and was soon able to read and write in that language and speak correctly.

Alex had never forgotten the dream of owning his own business. When he heard of an opportunity in Southern Nebraska, Alex and a friend moved once more, this time to McCook, where they opened the first Olympia Candy Store on West B. St.

By the 1920s the Olympia Candy Co. was making a little money. Alex bought out his partner and moved the business to a new Olympia Building, at 110 Main St., by the Burlington Depot. At this location Alex was able to expand his restaurant business and make more of his own confections -- hand dipped chocolates, hard candy and rich and delicious ice cream. Fancy boxes of Olympia candy became popular items for gifts. He did business at this location for the next 41 years, until his retirement in 1967.

Alex was always active in civic affairs -- the Masons, Elks, Eagles, St. Albans, and supportive of McCook College and the city's youth, but World War II brought many changes to McCook, and to Alex and the Olympia. When the Air Base was established north of town, the bus stop to and from the base was at the depot, so the Olympia, across the street, became a favorite hangout for the Army Air Corps soldiers. Business was good, but the air boys wanted something stronger than cherry phosphates. Though Alex was reluctant to add alcohol to his line of products, he could see that it could be a good business move. However, many of the Olympia regulars, society matrons, were reluctant to frequent a place that served alcohol. That led to "curb service," McCook's first "Drive In." Alex reserved a few parking spaces out front so that customers could drive up, and one of his four daughters, or another young lady, would take their orders and bring their orders to the car, saving them the embarrassment of entering a "liquor establishment."

Note: After the war Alex also introduced McCook's first "Sports Bar." He bought one of McCook's first TVs and hung it from the balcony toward the rear of the Olympia. Alex loved baseball (he regularly took the Burlington to Chicago to watch the Cubs play) and he loved boxing, so every Friday night he turned on the fights, and on Saturdays he tuned in for the Major League game of the week. The picture was fuzzy, but turned out to be popular. (He declined to offer other programs despite requests.)

World War II also provided Alex with the opportunity to come to the aid of his adopted country. During World War I he was not yet an American citizen (he became a naturalized American citizen in 1929), and despite repeated attempts to join the Army in World War II, he was deemed too old to serve. Alex vowed that he would find a way to serve.

What Alex did was to become a "Super Patriot." Toward that end he took out paid ads in the Gazette. In one, two-page ad Alex pictured President Roosevelt and his staff of Generals and Admirals. He listed the Red Willow County Honor Role of more than 500 names. The names of 16 boys killed in action had a special place at the top of the ad.

In the body of the ad Alex wrote an open letter, "Greetings, Friends of this Community from 5 to 105 years old..." Alex reminded his readers of the sacrifices our boys are making and chides his readers who complain about the "inconveniences" we suffer from rationing, and not being able to buy everything we want.

But, most of all, Alex urged everyone to "Buy Bonds," to provide the means for America to wage the war against "our enemies." Early in the war Alex had petitioned the President for permission to Sell War Bonds. After repeated attempts, and with the help of the Nebraska delegation to Washington, he was given that permission and the Federal Seal to make it official. At the time, only banks and post offices could sell War Bonds. Alex may have been the only individual in the U.S. who was allowed to sell War Bonds.

And sell War Bonds he did. He and his waitresses pushed War Bonds with the same vigor that they did ice cream sundaes. He devised ways to make those purchases as easy as possible. For his efforts he received a commendation from "A Grateful Nation."

In the year or so before his retirement in 1967 Alex sometimes talked about his years in McCook. He seemed to regret somewhat that he had added liquor to his business. He considered himself a "candy man" at heart. Alex was proud of his Greek heritage, but treasured his American citizenship above all. The greatest satisfaction in his life was his World War II work, when he sold War Bonds for the President.

Source: Gazette Centennial Edition