SF residents dream grand-prize of a million dollar Mega Millions raffle draw

Mega Millions jackpot hit $ 1 billion Friday, attracting former players lottery and newcomers to the convenience stores in the area to try their luck.

Banners at the windows of 19th Avenue Liquors at Inner Sunset, San Francisco, boasted of his status as a lucky place and encouraged visitors to become the third winner of the store's jackpot. On Friday morning, a crowd of people had gathered on 19th Avenue and Noriega Street, waiting for the arrival of the owner and opening the store.

Alex Tang, of San Jose, had been waiting since 9:30. visited his daughter, a student at the University of San Francisco, and decided to stop to buy a Mega Millions ticket.

"I had a dream that I won," Tang said.

At 8 pm On Friday, the lottery officials draw the winning numbers of the second-largest jackpot in the history of the lottery. Only one winner would win $ 565 million if he chose the cash option.

Tang does not usually play the lottery, he said, and decided to spend no more than $ 4 in tickets. "I'm not as bad as my wife. She will spend between $ 60 and $ 80.

John Jones had been waiting for 10 hours wearing his See's Candies uniform. He had to be back at work at 1 pm but was patient for the shop owner to arrive.

"I feel lucky today," Jones said. "If I go here, I feel I'm going to miss something."

Once the owner, Elias Shamieh, arrived around noon, Jones was second behind Tang. At the cash desk, Jones placed a $ 100 bill on the counter and shifted his choices: $ 20 on Mega Millions, $ 2 on Powerball, $ 1 on SuperLotto Plus, $ 5 on Fantasy 5 and $ 10 on Daily Derby. Jones left with 22 tickets in total.

Shamieh has been the owner of 19th Liquors Avenue for 11 years and manages it himself. He said the store had sold two jackpot tickets, which explains its high attendance Friday. The last big rush took place in January 2016, when the Powerball jackpot rose to $ 1.6 billion.

"This time, there was a 40-minute queue at the door and in the building," Shamieh said. "But this only happens when the amount exceeds $ 700 million."

In the absence of an exact match with the numbers drawn on Tuesday – a Safeway baker got five out of six numbers, not to mention the mega , for a $ 1.9 million reward – Friday's $ 1 billion jackpot, attracting people who have never or rarely played the numbers game.

At Miraloma Market on Petaluma Drive, people signed up and headed straight for the cash register to buy a Mega Millions ticket.

Richard Correia had never played in the Mega Millions category and brought his friend to help.

"Where am I doing it?" Asked Correia. "What do I want? Powerball?"

He left with five Powerball tickets and five Mega Million tickets for $ 20.If he wins, he says, he will give money to his two boys

Those who play regularly also spent extra money on Friday Peter Allrich arrived on the Metaluma market shortly after 10 am to buy ten tickets.

"I play lotto every week but I never spends $ 20, "he said." Usually it looks more like five to ten dollars. "

Born and raised in San Francisco, Allrich said he'd be traveling to Europe for He won the jackpot.

The California Lottery considers the Miraloma market as a "lucky retailer." "Because she sold several winning tickets a week last year to pay out on average $ 4,000 in lottery games, including scratch tickets.

Renata Lowers, d San Francisco, said he came from North Beach to the Miraloma Park store to buy tickets because his stepfather had played here and won.

"I played earlier in this round, but I did not win, obviously, so I'm back," Lowers said.

The maximum that she has ever won was

Colleen Tanaka works in a travel agency on the same square as the Miraloma market and approaches to buy tickets for the swimming pool of her office. She and her colleagues had never played the lottery together, but they had decided to try their luck at the jackpot.

"We could maybe charter a plane or a cruise ship – give our customers a free cruise," she joked.

The Mega Millions jackpot, which continues to grow, visit www.calottery.com/play/draw-games/mega-millions.

Ashley McBride is a staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @ashleynmcb