Lotto Sales Up at Lucky Liquor Store

Allen Balzarano bought his million dollar Powerball ticket at Carry-All Wine & Liquor in Mt. Sinai, and now others are flocking to see if there's any luck left at the liquor store.

Balzarano, 73, of Port Jefferson Station, was shopping for his 50th wedding anniversary celebration in May when he bought a $2 Powerball Quick Pick that turned into a $1,000,000 second place prize.

"She [his wife] told me a winning ticket was sold at the store where I bought ours and she kept telling me to check my numbers," Balzarano said in a release, "but I took my time."

He will receive a net check of $661,800 thanks to the ticket, and now local lottery players have been flocking the Mt. Sinai liquor store to see if they can catch some luck of their own. Lisa, a cashier at the store, said there's been a clear rise in lotto sales at the store since the win.

"They hear about it, they'll see the article in the window and come in and buy a ticket," she said.

While others try to capitalize, Balzarano is looking forward to continuing a year-long anniversary celebration.

"Maybe we can take that trip to Italy we've always talked about, too," he said.