The quiet buzz of anticipation is likely circling among the patrons of Foodsmart, the neighborhood grocery on Chicago's Northwest Side, where a Powerball ticket worth $2 million was recently sold. According to CBS News Chicago, the lucky ticket, purchased for the July 13 drawing at the store located at 3415 W. Diversey Ave in Logan Square, matched all five numbers with the inclusion of the 'Power Play' feature, propelling the prize to a multi-million dollar win.
The numbers that changed the fortune of one Illinois Lottery player were 9-55-59-66-69, with a Powerball of 21, Foodsmart's ownership, in conversation reveals an inkling that the winner may be a familiar face, one amongst their regular customer base, they don't know who could've won but they are buzzing with excitement at the store's stroke of luck, a sentiment that resonates among the staff and shoppers, having now sold two significant lottery tickets in a year.
This isn't the first instance of lottery magic for the family-owned business. Previous luck struck when another customer won $277,777 with a scratch-off ticket; following their victory, that customer has been a steadfast patron, shared the store's owners. Foodsmart will receive a one percent seller's bonus for vending the winning Powerball ticket, a sum that the owners intend to pump back into the grocery store, enhancing the range of offerings and services, as detailed in a statement by the owners in an interview with WGN-TV.
Laced with an audacious hope, the owner of Foodsmart shared the silver lining encasing their establishment, "We are a 24-hour one-stop-shop business in Logan Square and we even remain open on holidays. We have a laundromat, grab-and-go food, and a full grocery store," further expressing intentions to deploy the bonus into business improvement including a new deli after the retailer's windfall from their previous lottery win. While the hunt for the new millionaire continues, Foodsmart stands as a beacon of possibility, having now played host to two significant lottery wins, a narrative of fortune that enlivens the dreams of those who walk its aisles.
In the whirl of chance and luck, aspirants of fortune's favor have 365 days from the draw to step forward and claim their winnings, a caveat tempting many to double-check their numbers and secure their documentation. As the Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings Powerball draws near, with tickets at $2 and an optional 'Powerplay' for an extra dollar, the residents of Chicago’s Northwest Side might find themselves wandering into Foodsmart, wondering if the luck that permeates its premises might rub off on them too.
