Something similar happened with me the other night. I'm a team leader in a pub, basically i'm in charge of the staff and any problems come through me. Also, because of my age, customers don't tend to like it when I tell them to drink up and go home at the end of the night. Well, one 'regular' decided that he'd give me a barrage of abuse, he shouted and shouted and swore and swore for what seemed to be a non-stop 10 full minutes.
Afterwards, I simply took my earphones out (that he couldn't see while he was talking) smiled, and took his drink off him.
It's much better than shouting back.. plus you can laugh at him.
*shrugs*
I love my job on so many levels.