SF residents dream grand grand prize draw at Mega Millions of $ 1 billion

The Mega Millions jackpot reached $ 1 billion on Friday, attracting former lottery players and newcomers to local convenience stores.

Window banners at 19th Avenue Liquors in Inner Sunset, San Francisco, promoted its 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. He drove to visit his daughter, a student at the University of San Francisco, and decided to stop for buy a Mega Millions ticket.

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

At 20 hours. 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 has 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 leave here, I feel like 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 went out with 22 tickets in total.

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

"This time, there was a 40-minute queue at the door and block," Shamieh said. "But that only happens when it exceeds $ 700 million."

Without an exact match to Tuesday's numbers (a Safeway baker had five out of six numbers, not counting the mega, for a $ 1.9 million reward), the jackpot climbed to $ 1 billion Friday, attracting having never or rarely played this game.

At the Miraloma Market on Petaluma Drive, people signed up and went directly to the checkout to buy a Mega Millions ticket.

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

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

He left with five Powerball tickets and five Mega Millions 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 entered the Metaluma market shortly after 10 hours to buy 10 tickets.

"I play lotto every week but I never spend $ 20," he said. "Usually, rather between five and ten dollars."

Born and raised in San Francisco, Allrich said he would travel to Europe if he won the jackpot.

The California Lottery qualifies the Miraloma market as a "lucky retailer" because it sold several winning tickets a week last year to pay an average of $ 4,000 in lottery games, including scratch tickets.

Renata Lowers of San Francisco said she came from North Beach to Miraloma Park to buy tickets because her father-in-law 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 she ever earned was $ 300 on a scratch ticket, she said.

Colleen Tanaka works in a travel agency on the same square as the Miraloma Market and went to buy tickets for her office pool. She and her colleagues had never played the lottery together, but they had decided to try their luck at the jackpot. They exchanged some ideas on how to manage the winnings.

"Maybe we should charter a plane or a cruise ship – give our customers a free cruise," she joked.

For Mega Millions jackpot updates that are constantly growing, visit www.calottery.com/play/draw-games/mega-millions.

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