Dilip Patel of Shiv Convenience Inc. always knew his store was lucky. A phone call at 7:30 a.m. on July 8 proved him right.
The winning Mega Millions ticket for $133 million was purchased at the bodega on Hillside Avenue in Jamaica.
“I got a phone call from the lotto, ‘The winner’s from your store,’” said Manager Bharat Kumar Patel. “I’m shocked. I’m happy.”
Patel said he began to jump up and down in excitement. He posted a sign outside of his store urging the winner to come forward.
Patel anticipates more business from the exposure.
“They [customers] think my store is lucky,” said Patel.
Since word broke of the winning ticket, more customers have been coming into the store, especially to buy lottery tickets.
“You hear people win, but not people around you, especially not the local delis that you come to regularly,” said Abby Adenekan, a regular customer. “It makes me want to play next time.”
Elijah Saint, another frequent customer, bought a ticket of his own after hearing the news.
“I’m just in shock,” said Saint. “It shows it could happen here.”
Saint said if he won he would give back to the community, donating some of the money to charity.
While many people came into the store on Wednesday, July 8, one person who had not visited the store as of 5 p.m. was the person who bought the winning ticket.
“I want to see him. He’s a lucky person,” said Hayat Khan, 60.
The store has developed a personal relationship with members of the community.
Shamo Birsen, who bought hundreds of tickets, said that, if she won, she would buy a plane for her son, a commercial pilot.
She praised the store and its employees.
“They treat everyone with respect,” said Birsen. “They are number one for honesty in this neighborhood.”
Birsen noted that Patel once walked home with an elderly customer, hand in hand.
The store will also receive $10,000 from the New York Lottery for selling the winning ticket.
