Lucky Spot: Two Players Win Big on Tickets Bought at Family Fare in Grand Rapids

Michigan Lottery players may have found a new lucky spot to buy lottery tickets in Grand Rapids.

While it’s impossible to predict when a retailer may sell a big winner, the Family Fare Quick Stop, located at 2755 Lake Michigan Drive NW in Grand Rapids, has been especially lucky for players in October and November selling two big winners.

In October, a Kent County man, who chose to remain anonymous, won $300,000 playing the Lottery’s Fire & Ice Cashword game.

“I scratched the ticket when I got in my truck. When I revealed the sixth red word, I checked the ticket over at least 10 times before taking it back into the store and scanning it,” the player said when claiming his prize. “When the ‘file a claim’ message came up on the Lottery machine, I walked back to my truck, locked the doors, and drove straight home to put the ticket in a safe spot.

“I’ve always dreamed about what I would do if I won a large Lottery prize, so it feels like a dream that it happened! I’m still having a hard time believing it’s real.”

This month, Sonia McCarthy, of Grand Rapids, won $25,000 a year for life playing Lucky for Life hours after telling her parents it was her lucky game.

“I told my parents one night how I have been quite lucky on the Lucky for Life game, so I was going to continue playing it,” said McCarthy. “I checked my ticket the next morning and was totally floored when I saw I won $25,000 a year for life! It’s almost like I spoke it into existence since I won the night I told my parents it was my lucky game.

“It feels incredible to win! You always hope it will happen to you, but you never expect it to, so it is an amazing feeling!”

McCarthy chose to receive her winnings as a one-time lump sum payment of $390,000, rather than annuity payments of $25,000 a year for 20 years or life, whichever is greater.