N.J. deli waits for its $212M Powerball winner to surface

Mar 15, 2010, 10:36 pm (24 comments)

Powerball

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Someone who bought a Powerball lottery ticket last week at Gene's II Deli in Morris Township, New Jersey, could be a very rich person, but the winner of Saturday's $211.7 million jackpot has yet to come forward.

Lav Patel, a co-owner of the Speedwell Avenue deli and convenience store, said someone had called three times Monday from three different telephone numbers to verify the winning number.

"I don't know if it's the same person," said Patel, who runs Gene's with his cousin, Pinal Patel, and Rudrakant Joshi. Patel said he's hoping the winner is a regular customer.

The store will receive a $10,000 bonus from the state lottery commission for selling the winning ticket, said Dominick DeMarco, spokesman for the New Jersey Lottery.

Saturday's drawing marks the first time a jackpot-winning Powerball ticket has been purchased in New Jersey since the state started offering the game on Jan. 31. The jackpot, which has been growing since Feb. 10, has a cash value of about $101.6 million.

Steven Palmieri, the acting executive director of the New Jersey Lottery, said in a release that Powerball is quickly gaining in popularity.

"With New Jersey selling winning tickets, it is bound to become even more popular in the weeks and months to come," Palmieri said.

The largest solo jackpot win in New Jersey lottery was in 2005 by Harold and Helen Lerner in Rutherford, who won $258 million in the Mega Millions, DeMarco said.

In Gene's, where a wall of scratch-off lotto tickets complements the big-bucks lottery offerings, customers were excited that their local deli had sold a winner.

"They're like family," said Natasha Futrell, who works across the street from Gene's. "I think this is a lucky spot. It's always packed."

Kate Kelleher had tried for Saturday's jackpot with a ticket bought at the deli. "Oh my God, I did (buy a ticket)," Kelleher said. "I looked for a minute. I had one number."

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Star Ledger

Comments

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

I wonder if they're related to the other Joshi who split for Katmandu with Willis Willis' jackpot.

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Best wishes to the winner !

Big Grin

Guru101's avatarGuru101

Congratulations to the winner.

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Yes, congrats to whoever won!

grave

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Mar 15, 2010

I wonder if they're related to the other Joshi who split for Katmandu with Willis Willis' jackpot.

I Agree!  i was thinking and wondering the same thing....

s5thomps's avatars5thomps

"Only $10,000 for selling a ticket that is worth over 211 million?" Most states pay at least 0.1 percent for selling a winning ticket. I think the store should at least get 211 grand. Just doesn't seem right to me.

                                                                                                                             

               "GOT MY SHADES ON WAITING FOR THE SUN TO SHINE MY WAY!, EVERYTHING

                EVENS UP YOU JUST WAIT......  FOR EVEN A GARBAGE CAN GETS A STEAK!!"

                                                                                       JAY-Z (BLUE PRINT)

                                                               Sun Smiley                                 

THRUST's avatarTHRUST

Why is the cash value always less with Power Ball and more with Mega Millions?

Either way it is a sweet win. 

 

Party

Guest

Yes, Virginia, there is a santa claus, and by the way, some people have all the luck!

Starr920

Congratulations to the winner(s) Hurray! 

Morris Plains is about 30 minutes from where I live - very nice area with lots of business offices

so it would be nice if this was another pool win like the Chubb Group from last year. 

Either way, the State will make at least $10 million since enactment of the new tax on lottery winnings.

  As for payment to the Deli, the $10,000 bonus payout sounds fair to me.  The Long Beach, California lottery agent who sold the winning $133 million ticket receives one half of one percent or $655,000. What did they do to deserve that kind of payout?  Nothing, really. Plus they got free publicity for their store so they'll end up with more business than they can handle.

CAL-LottoPlayer

'Lav Patel, a co-owner of the Speedwell Avenue deli and conveniencestore, said someone had called three times Monday from three differenttelephone numbers to verify the winning number.

"I don't know if it's the same person," said Patel, who runs Gene'swith his cousin, Pinal Patel, and Rudrakant Joshi. Patel said he'shoping the winner is a regular customer."'

I don't know why anyone would need to call the store they bought it at to find the winning numbers.  All they need to do is a quick Google search to find the "Official New Jersey Lottery Web Site."  BTW, this is the web site address for the New Jersey Lottery.

LckyLary

this isn't Virginia, this is nj... MORRIS PLAINS The Only One WINNER!!!! I'M from Morris Plains and play most of my Pb in MP. How's that for a topper!!! Take that, Hurricane, WV... take that, Rutherford, Cape May, Shaker Heights, wherever!!!! I can be proud of this town now! Nice that the 1st Pb WIN in nj is right HERE!!!

If it were me.. I'd wait until after Saturday before popping up. My friend's band TooManyGodz is playing about 1 block away from Gene's II. (how's that for good publicity!) If it were me I'd want to go there incognito (sorta!) and then announce the Monday after. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

We are quite familiar with Speedwell Avenue.. we were at Friendly's the other night a few blocks away.. nobody was even talking about this. The winner could have their celebration meal there and no one would notice!

By the way, see related story on here about the "Education Lottery", sometimes the "official" results are "wrong". Even when Mr. Whittaker won he thought he missed by one due to incorrect published numbers. Also someone calling the store doesn't mean they won, remember Ohio?

THRUST's avatarTHRUST

^

I'd wait at-least 2 weeks...if not longer before claiming or telling anyone. 

And I am sorry...why would anyone celebrate at a Friendly's? Skeptical

 

LOL

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

I'd claim it right away - that way I would have my money ! Green laugh

...... and I hope that it is one person !  Patriot

iGlenn

Quote: Originally posted by THRUST on Mar 17, 2010

^

I'd wait at-least 2 weeks...if not longer before claiming or telling anyone. 

And I am sorry...why would anyone celebrate at a Friendly's? Skeptical

 

LOL

I'd have no problem celebrating at Friendly's.  I love ice cream!  Big Smile

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