THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 10, 1994 TAG: 9407080283
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
Lady Luck likes the Northwest Grocery, an all-purpose general store and gas station near the Virginia-North Carolina state line.
In and around the refrigerated cases stocked with Coke, Bud and Snapple; over the uneven wooden floors covered by discolored linoleum; and around the shelves laden with barbecued Pork Crack'lins, hot dog rolls, canned pork 'n' beans and snacks lurks Ms. Luck's spirit.
The store has been the site of several big money winners.
Last week, Don Stallings of Elizabeth City, N.C., won more than $2 million before taxes for choosing the winning combination of 03-28-29-32-36-38.
Because the ticket was sold at the Battlefield Boulevard store, Charlie Banks, who has owned the business for 15 years, also received a monetary kiss from Ms. Luck.
On Thursday, two representatives from the Virginia State Lottery traveled from their regional office in Hampton to hand Banks a check for $5,000.
``Whatever store sells a million dollar ticket, they are rewarded with a $5,000 check,'' said George Sawyer, the Virginia Lottery regional sales manager.
``Yes sir, I really appreciate this,'' Banks said about his own good fortune. ``I need all the help I can get. The lottery has been good to me.''
In fact, the store seems to exude lucky vibrations.
At the end of April, Irma Silvester, who manages the small post office next to Bank's business, bought a $100,000 winning ticket at the store. Banks said he has also sold $5,000, $10,000 and $30,000 winning tickets.
And looking at a special Virginia Lottery corner set up in a portion of Banks' business, it seems Ms. Luck works overtime at the Northwest Grocery.
The corner is adorned with at least 50 Polaroid snapshots of smiling players who have won pots ranging from $50 to $1,500.
Banks may get a crush of new customers. His storefront now features a white Virginia Lottery banner designating his business as one that has sold a million-dollar winner.
``His business will increase,'' Sawyer said. ``We know from experience that such a sign brings people in. They hope lightning will strike twice. They consider it a winning store.''
It appears North Carolina residents consider the store a winning venue. About 80 percent of its lottery sales are to Tarheels who slip over the state line to try their luck, Banks said. North Carolina does not have a state lottery.
``It helps bring people in, no doubt about it,'' Banks said. ``The lottery is a drawing card. People come in to buy lottery tickets and then they buy other items, too. I know many of the regular customers who come from Carolina, but since word got out, I see people come in here I've never seen before. They say this is a lucky place.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Grocery owner Charlie Banks sold a winning lottery ticket.
KEYWORDS: LOTTO LOTTERY by CNB