SWANSEA, Mass. — The James Quick Mart on James Reynolds Road in Swansea, Massachusetts, must have a good luck charm stashed under its counter — for the third time in the past five years, it sold a $1 million lottery ticket to one of its customers.
Clerk Shiv Patel said he sold the ticket to a man who came back after scratching it to tell him of his good fortune.
"That night around 9 o'clock he just stopped by to say, 'I was the one who hit the million dollars and I got the ticket from here,' and I was like, 'That's nice,'" said Patel.
He said the winning customer purchased the ticket last week.
The $20 "40th Anniversary Millions" instant game ticket was a gift to Debra M. Joyce of Mansfield, according to the Massachusetts State Lottery website.
Joyce selected the cash option and received a one-time lump sum of $650,000 before taxes. She told the State Lottery she plans to save the money for her children's college fund.
Patel said the 40th anniversary scratch ticket is the most popular with his customers.
"Nobody leaves the store without playing that ticket," he said.
With three big winners at the store in recent years, a few regular customers keep trying their luck in hopes of being able to cash in.
"I keep buying tickets but I don't win anything," said Tony Costa.
The James Quick Mart will receive a $10,000 prize for selling the $1 million ticket.
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Thanks to rdgrnr for the tip.
I picked up a $20 40th Anniversary scratch ticket a few weeks back. Didn't hit for a million, I had to settle for $25. Next time if there could be just
another four or five zero's to add to that, I'd be very happy.
'Patel said the 40th anniversary scratch ticket is the most popular with his customers.
"Nobody leaves the store without playing that ticket," he said.'
Funny... I have never played 'that ticket', and this is one of my favorite lottery ticket buying places in Massachusetts. Its right off 195 which makes it a quick trip across the border for a flip-trip. Unfortunately I have not been one of their lucky winners. They are very nice there. I have run into 3 different men who are all family members who help run/man the store. Sometimes they have a child/grandchild there as well. Its a nice environment and its clean - especially for a 'likor' store.
Oh - and that store has been known as a lucky-lottery store for years now. They always have up the banners of which games and how much have most currently won there. Pretty inspirational.
The 'funniest' thing about that area is if you mosey on down the road a piece further ... to the stop light... you have dueling Dunkin' Donuts stores. One as a drive through and one as part of the Shell station. Pretty cute. (fresher coffee at the shell - if you drink decaf that is)
seems like all the state border stores are the "so called lucky stores". could it be that they have the most sales volume since they draw from at least 2 different states. i would say avoid any store run by a "patel" for obvious reasons but then you wouldn't be able to find one very easily. one thing you can find easily are dunkin donuts stores as there is one on every corner in every town in new england.
Congrats to the lucky store and winners.
Congrats to Ms Joyce
Don't forget about cvs and walgreens.their everywhere up here in N.E.btw some patels are there as well
Let's stop with the Patel stereotyping/discrimating attitude!! Not ALL of them are theives ok?
CONGRATS to the winner!!
Seems it's cute to say that your saving lotto winnings for children or grandchildren college fund but
I don't know about college anymore, so many graduate,move back home and can't find a jobs.
Me my ownself, I'd say that store was about played out on big Scratchers.
I betcha it's about ripe for a big Powerball win though.
You pickin' up what I'm puttin' down, Max?
LOL - why yes ridge I certainly do... I will go out today (just cuz you said so - my dh is wondering where he can get your powerful mo-jo to get me galvanized into action more frequently)
I do have a way with the wimmins, Max.
But it ain't lernt. It's born and breaded.
Maybe it's like ol' Roger Miller said:
I'm the seventh
Of a seventh son
My pappy was a pistol
I'm a son of a gun
So dang me
Dang me
They orta take a rope
And hang me
High from the highest tree
Woman would ya weep fer me?
amazing how the lucky stores are always in n.e or the border as someone stated...wow
Congratulations to the lottery retailer and it's three BIG winners thus far!
maximumfun, thank you for sharing your thoughts, as usual, they're very helpful and clear.
Nice job everyone.