Powerball drastically drives sales at Bradenton lotto retailers

MANATEE -- The lottery frenzy hit Manatee County last week as Powerball winnings topped $800 million, and retailers are seeing even more traffic at local stores this week as the jackpot hit $1.5 billion Tuesday.

Some store owners said the day of the drawing is typically when they see the most traffic.

Neil Vachhani, who works at the One Stop Food Store in Palmetto, said last Wednesday was one of his busiest days for lottery sales and he saw "probably triple or quadruple the sales overall for Powerball." He didn't have lines constantly, as some lottery retailers have seen, but traffic was constant.

Tuesday slowed down a bit for Vachhani, but he expects to see more people buying tickets on Wednesday.

Jay Irsheid, manager at Bradenton Quick Mart on 14th Street West, said he thinks the craze has come and gone for some of his customers.

"People spent all of their money on it for the $800 million, for the first time, so they don't have much left to play again," Irsheid said. "That's what I think."

He saw the biggest jump in his lottery sales after the $800 million to $900 million Powerball increase.

Daphne Alford was one who played early and was too discouraged to play again this week.

"I got one last week but I was mad I didn't win so I didn't get (another) one," Alford said. If she had won, she would take care of her sisters, pay off some bills and "buy lots of shoes," she said. On Tuesday, she accompanied a friend to downtown Bradenton's Market on Old Main Street to buy a Powerball ticket.

Lou Thomey, co-owner of the Market, said the lottery purchases have been "incredible."

"It's about 10 times what we have had normally," Thomey said. "Our normal traffic is a lot of scratch-offs and it's the opposite right now." On Friday, Thomey said, ticket sales were "non-stop" at the Market.

One customer stopped in, slid $220 cash across the counter and asked Thomas Stynes, the other co-owner of the Market, for as many tickets as possible, Stynes said.

While lottery ticket sales don't mean a lot of extra money for retailers -- they make a 5 percent commission off of ticket sales and a 1 percent bonus for prizes under $600 -- the ancillary sales to customers stopping in the store are good for the business owners. Of course, if a business sells a jackpot ticket, they also get a large bonus.

Regular customers who stop by the Market for snacks or lunch at Lou's Diner are stepping out of their comfort zone and buying lottery tickets.

"You can see an increase in the diner and market business," Thomey said. "'While we're here, let's grab a bottle of wine or let's grab lunch' and vice-versa."

Rick Mallard, who works down the street from the Market at Mariners General Insurance Group, said he'll buy lottery tickets on occasion because "it's supposed to go to a good cause." And if Mallard won, he'd put some of his winnings toward philanthropic causes, including the Wounded Warrior Project.

"It would be mostly used for good deeds," he said. He lives in an apartment on Anna Maria Island right now and said he'd consider buying a home on the island. He would also want to fix his golf cart, which has a broken headlight.

Cheryl Sment, who traveled to the area from Waukesha, Wis., said her husband advised her to "go around to all of the little shops" and buy tickets. The experience was not only to increase her chances at picking the right numbers, but to meet different people in the area and experience Bradenton's culture.

The Florida lifestyle has already rubbed off on Sment, according to her plans if she wins the Powerball drawing.

"I'd buy an island," she said.

Janelle O'Dea, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095. Follow her on Twitter@jayohday.

This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Powerball drastically drives sales at Bradenton lotto retailers ."