Store’s lucky lottery streak continues with $10M ticket

Scratcher pays off big for both buyer and WLV retailer



TEN BIG ONES—Mimi Shon, owner of Village Spirits Shoppe in Westlake Village, celebrates the sale of a $10-million scratcher ticket purchased in her store. The shop has enjoyed a string of winners. JOSEPH A. GARCIA/Acorn Newspapers

TEN BIG ONES—Mimi Shon, owner of Village Spirits Shoppe in Westlake Village, celebrates the sale of a $10-million scratcher ticket purchased in her store. The shop has enjoyed a string of winners. JOSEPH A. GARCIA/Acorn Newspapers

The lucky streak continues for a local convenience store that has once again sold a winning lottery ticket.

Village Spirits Shoppe in Westlake Village reports a male customer won $10 million in the California Lottery Scratchers game from a ticket purchased in the store March 11. It’s not known if the winner took annuity payments or the lump sum.

The winner—who hasn’t been identified—played the lottery’s Ultimate Millions scratch-off game.

Yani Shon, whose family has owned the small store at the County Line shopping center on Lakeview Canyon Road for more than 30 years, said news of the win spread quickly through the community and drove additional customers to their door.

“More people are buying scratchers. People who used to buy the dollar ones are now buying the $30 scratchers because you never know what you’re going to get,” Shon said.

As owners of the store, the Shon family will receive a half-percent of the prize money, or $50,000.

“People think we’re the luckiest retailer around,” the shop owner said.

Village Spirit Shoppe has a history of selling winners. In 2017, Shon’s mother, Mimi, sold a ticket that paid the buyer $3 million. That year the store also sold winning tickets in the amount of $150,000 and $75,000.

The lucky streak continued last week with not only the big $10-million payoff but another winner that paid a buyer $10,000.

Of course, with any big win comes the question of how to use the funds.

Experts advise lottery winners to hire a professional to help protect their newfound wealth. Paying off debts is a good first step.

Winners should also be aware of unwanted attention from long-lost friends, acquaintances and scam artists looking for handouts.