Lottery hotspots Towne Market in Phillipsburg and Lump's Center Street Deli in Bethlehem both experienced record or near record sales, their owners said.
View full sizeKelly Branscom, of Zionsville, buys two Powerball lottery tickets, one for her and one for her cat Token, today at the Hess gas station at Brodhead Avenue and Broadway in Bethlehem. At left, is Alex Lopez, of Bethlehem, with Powerball tickets in hand. Phillipsburg’s Towne Market has been a hot spot for buying lottery tickets for years, but owner Sal Cassar says he’s never seen demand like there’s been for tonight’s record $600 million Powerball draw.
“Everyone feels when it’s this big, you have to take a shot,” Cassar said. “There’s only so many opportunities like this in a lifetime.”
As of this afternoon, tonight’s Powerball jackpot — which will be drawn at 11 p.m. — is second in size only to the $656 million Mega Millions jackpot in March 2012.
Powerball ticket buying also was brisk at Lump’s Center Street Deli in Bethlehem, another popular lottery location. It was almost non-stop for half an hour this afternoon.
“I’ll take $20 of winning tickets,” one woman said.
The store has sold one $1 million ticket, along with a $500,000 winner, a $400,000 winner and a $190,000 winner, owner David Sanders said. Towne Market once sold a ticket worth $663,000, Cassar said.
“Everyone in Bethlehem has been in,” Sanders said. “It gives people hope.”
Bethlehem resident Wanda Montinez was especially hopeful. She bought her Powerball ticket from Sanders’ daughter, who dreamed that she sold the winning ticket.
“I told her that dream was me,” said Montinez, who said she would buy a better home for her and her mom with the winnings, travel the world and assist many animal shelters.
With a lump sum prize of $376.9 million, many were feeling generous. Bethlehem resident Moe Garganta said he’s given his money to his kids. Easton resident Duke Allen said he’d give it to the needy.
“Grandparents are all going to help their grandchildren; most are going to buy a new home,” Sanders said. “Everyone is going to quit their jobs.”