NYC Convenience Stores Hit it Big

by Jake Neher | 04/02/2012 | 5:39pm

NYC Convenience Stores Hit it Big

Bodegas See 20% Jump in Sales with Record Mega Millions Jackpot

They're not holding the winning ticket, but New York City convenience store owners say they hit the jackpot with last week's Mega Millions drawing.

The city's Bodega Federation says the stores they represent saw a 20% jump in sales last Friday. Federation President Jose Fernandez says the $640-million jackpot brought a wave of new customers to bodegas.

"Usually the extra revenue that we get is not only from the people that live in the neighborhood," Fernandez said. "So you ended up having an extra percentage of people that usually don't show up or buy in your stores."

He says the extra foot traffic also brought spikes in sales of products like cigarettes and snack foods.

Dipak Parikh has owned a small convenience store in the Bronx for 24 years. But he says he's never seen this kind of boost from the lotto.

"A lot of people play $100, $200. And my sale's going about 30% up. I'm so happy, too," Parikh said.

The next Mega Millions drawing takes place Tuesday night.

Weekdays at Noon

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