A Mission District corner store has a $7 million secret sitting out there somewhere. Lottery officials say a top-prize Crossword Xtreme Scratchers ticket was sold at Mission Grocery & Liquor in San Francisco, and whoever bought it just became an instant millionaire, whether they know it or not.
Lottery Confirms Sale at Mission Grocery
In a press release via California Lottery, officials confirmed that the winning Crossword Xtreme ticket was purchased at Mission Grocery & Liquor, 2130 Mission Street near Sycamore. The Lottery even shared a photo of a clerk identified as Rocky, smiling next to an oversized ceremonial check. The actual winner, however, still has not come forward to start the formal claims process.
Before any real money changes hands, the Lottery vets major prizes, a review that typically runs six to eight weeks once a claim is filed, according to the agency.
Ticket Details and Odds
The Crossword Xtreme Scratchers ticket runs $30 a pop and advertises a “TOP PRIZE OF $7,000,000,” according to the game listing on the California Lottery. The current print run lists the odds of hitting that $7 million top prize at about 1 in 4.8 million for the jackpots still out in circulation. So yes, lightning did just strike on Mission Street.
Retailer Bonus, Taxes and What It Means for the Shop
Mission Grocery & Liquor is in line for a nice little windfall of its own. Under Lottery incentive rules for top-prize tickets of $1 million or more, the store is eligible for a retailer bonus of roughly $35,000, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. The winner’s haul, on the other hand, will be trimmed by federal taxes, and the final payout hinges on whether they choose a lump-sum cash option or an annuity, the paper notes.
For the corner shop, that bonus money, plus the photo op and bragging rights, usually translates into a short-term bump in customers and a lot of “Hey, is this the place that sold the ticket?” from curious neighbors.
What Winners Should Do
Lottery officials urge anyone who thinks they might be holding the golden ticket to sign the back right away and stash it somewhere secure before doing anything else. From there, the next step is to contact Lottery headquarters to kick off the claim process.
The Lottery also stresses responsible play and points anyone who may need support to confidential help at 1-800-GAMBLER or online at 800gambler.chat.
