SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Crowds of customers packed into Chase's Cigar Store in the Eastwood section of Syracuse Sunday, hoping some lottery luck would rub off on them.
A customer at Chase's Cigar Store on James Street purchased the winning Mega Millions ticket worth $35 million dollars last week. Ever since the news broke, business has been booming.
"I mean that's such a big thing with all of the states that are involved and this is the first time NY State has had a first prize winner, so it puts you on the map, its really cool", said store owner, Robert Fantacone.
Some customers say the store is now lucky because someone there hit the jackpot.
"I'll still buy a lottery ticket and hope that I'm the next one", said Mike Kinahan of Syracuse.
The Mega Million dollar question on everyone's mind now is, who won? Right now, no one knows, it's a big mystery, but either way people are hoping its someone local and someone in need.
"We hope its somebody who needs the money, that will put it back into the area and do good for everybody" said Fantacone.
"In this economy right now, its so hard, whoever won this money, I hope they enjoy it and enjoy life", said weekly customer, Antione Stanley.
The winner matched all five numbers: 23, 30, 36, 39, 48, and the Mega Ball number 34.
The winner cannot claim his or her prize until the New York Lotto customer service center opens Monday morning. Until then that person should sign his or her name on the back of the ticket and put it in a very safe place.
If the winner lives Onondaga County, they must claim their winning ticket at the regional office in downtown Syracuse.
The owner of Chase's Cigar Store is hoping the person who bought the winning ticket is one of his regular customers — and remembers who sold it to him or her.
"Best case scenario, it's somebody that we know that's been a regular for years, and they'll show us their gratitude by giving us a nice hefty tip," said Bob Fantacone, who owns Chase's Cigar Store at 2823 James St. with his wife, Shawn. "That's the best case scenario. If not, you know what, it's great. I hope it's somebody that needed the money. I hope it's somebody local that pumps the money back into Central New York."
Fantacone may be getting a tip from the state. The state lottery web site states retailers will be eligible for a $10,000 bonus for selling a jackpot-winning Mega Millions ticket.
Fantacone said he's not sure if the bonus is still available, but will find out today.
Fantacone said he has no clue who bought the ticket for $1. State lottery officials know it was sold at his store. The winner has a year to claim the money, though Fantacone thinks the lucky person will come forward this week.
In the 26 years he has owned the convenience store, Fantacone has sold three lottery tickets that turned out to be big winners — prizes of $100,000, $52,000 and $35,000. But this is the first time the store has sold a ticket that has made someone a millionaire, he said.
Is Fantacone hoping people will view his store as a "lucky spot" and come there to buy lottery tickets, bringing him more business? You bet he is.
"You get struck by lightning, what are the chances you're going to get struck again?" Fantacone said this afternoon. "But that's not what people think. Some people have filtered in today to congratulate us and to play a ticket, and we'll have people coming in all week from all over the city to play a ticket because once you have a winner, they think that now that's a lucky spot. We welcome it, obviously."
Chase's Cigar Store in Eastwood sold Friday's winning $35 million Mega Millions lottery ticket.
The store gets a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket and the owner hopes that the winner gives the store a "a nice hefty tip"?
Finally someone in Ny start winning big. I might be the next big winner
My local channel 10 keeps going to this 7-11 when there is a big jackpot, the clerk is the nastiest person on the planet!! He makes you wait while he serves six or more customers with chips and soda even if you were there first. Once there was this college kid that looked as if she was doing a week's worth of shopping!! The huge Acme is one block away! I went there a few times, but will now go miles to avoid this place. I now have a favorite place and going to keep it! In a way, I'm happy that ch 10 doesn't put my gas station on TV, the place is small and crowded as it is. But you receive fast, friendly service by two clerks with two machines. These folks are serious about your tickets.
Ch 10 showcased another faulty service, a Dermatologist that I won't name, she's on the Today's show also. I went, saw her twice, paid the huge amounts for her services. All she told me was to use Dove soap??? No meds, nothing. Just soap??? And they still use her??? What a rip off! Btw, the Dove didn't do the trick, I still have acne at my age? Geez!!!
I don't trust Ch 10 for experts anymore.
"We hope its somebody who needs the money, that will put it back into the area and do good for everybody" said Fantacone.
The owner of Chase's Cigar Store is hoping the person who bought the winning ticket is one of his regular customers - and remembers who sold it to him or her....... "Best case scenario, it's somebody that we know that's been a regular for years, and they'll show us their gratitude by giving us a nice hefty tip," said Bob Fantacone, who owns Chase's Cigar Store
This guys sounds like some of the stores clerks in my area who think customers who buy lottery tickets and win somethings owe them a hefty tip. Some even try to make a verbal contract with every customer buying a ticket by saying "remember me if you win". I don't think it would hold up in court if you ignored them.
The place I buy my ticket if the owner is in there she will go "Hope you win so you can buy this place."I just laugh at her when she says that.One day I was thinking why not buy her out it would give me something to do when not out speading my winnings. LOL
I was just about to hit the back button when I read the store owners request for a hefty tip....and my first thought is "Get the f*ck outta here!" The day I win, no clerk should expect to receive a single red cent...unless I am still filling out the slip and they say something like, "gotta feeling about X number", and I mark it and my ticket matches all 6 numbers. Now I wouldn't make him/her a 1/6th partner or anything foolish like that...but I would probably tip a C note or something. Not because I have to but because I would be grateful to have won and that person did constructively contribute to my win. But as for the person who takes my playslip, hands me the ticket AFTER I present my money....GET THE F#*K OUTTA HERE!
"I mean that's such a big thing with all of the states that are involved and this is the first time NY State has had a first prize winner, so it puts you on the map, its really cool", said store owner, Robert Fantacone."
That was so NOT the first time NY has had a first prize winner!
And I would tip the clerk that sold me the winning ticket. But only if it was one that is use to me and is nice to me. Some of mine are very good to me. Others don't bat an eyelash or even crack a smile. But the ones I hate are the ones that complain about lottery players. Grrrrr.....I'm not tipping some snot nosed little punk that gives me hate looks because I'm buying lottery tickets and then thinks they did something because they did their job.
what happened to people waiting to be given something? are we so forthright that we're now loudly hoping for "hefty tips." I like the old fashioned way how people did things and expected nothing but a "thank you."
I once read one of those rave and rants on a Boston magazine. A barista at Starbucks was ranting that he was not tipped after doing his job. This greed, and yes I called it greed, is what caused all the mess the country is in right now.
Obviously this guy is dreaming. He apparently doesn't think the $10,000 he'll get from the state for selling the ticket is adequate (hefty enough) and he hopes the winner will use his winnings to help the area.
He hopes the winner gives him a hefty tip? lol. Yeah right dude! If I was the winner and if I read that quote I would walk back into the store and drop a $5 bill on his counter and say "Here you go. Here's your hefty tip," and then just walk on out.
lol. I don't think I would even do that. The store already got a nice bonus and now they are hoping for a hefty tip from the winner? If that was me, they would probably would not even see me in their store again. There is a difference between someone being nice and giving a tip on their own and then employees demanding to get a share of a winning ticket.
The store where I buy my Powerball tickets had a $233 million dollar prize sold in it.
(Boy did I check my tickets when that happened! Alas! It wasn't me.)
They definitely under emphasized the win. Although the store distributed bonuses to the employees they found the whole thing very disruptive.
They will only discuss it if you ask them, and then always with impatience.
This is really cool to watch as this is where I live! Perfect store to have sold the ticket, small local community store as opposed to a big chain gas station.
I totally agree. I hope store owners understand that if there are two places near me that serve similar items, and one puts out a tip jar but the other doesn't, I'll visit the place without a tip jar. People behind the counter aren't waitresses.
As for this store, sure I'd leave a hefty tip. 20% is a hefty tip, right? I'd give him 20% ... on the price of the ticket. I'd drop two dimes on the counter and laugh.
Seriously, if I won a big prize, and if I knew the person working the counter, I might do something really nice for the person. But not if the person owned the store. Dropping a little sunshine on the person working the counter for near-minimum wage would be a good thing to do. But he/she has no right to EXPECT it. And the store owner shouldn't expect tips. Just as with barber shops and beauty salons, you tip the employees but not the owner.