Co-owner says it’s the ‘most exciting news ever to happen to Frazier Park’ – but winner has not come forward
A liquor store in a tiny California mountain town reverberated with excitement on Thursday after word that the winning ticket for a $1.765bn Powerball jackpot was sold there.
The drawing on Wednesday night ended a long stretch without a winner of the top prize and brought news media to Midway Market & Liquor in Frazier Park, a community of 2,600 residents about 75 miles north of Los Angeles.
“That’s the most exciting news ever [to] happen to Frazier Park,” said the store’s co-owner Nidal Khalil.
The winner had not come forward to him, he said, adding that he hoped it was one of his regular customers. Most were local retirees, he said.
The winning numbers were 22, 24, 40, 52, 64 and the Powerball 10. In California, winners’ names must be disclosed. The store will receive a $1m reward for selling the lucky ticket.
Janea Herrera, a clerk, at first thought it was a joke when she was told the winning ticket was sold at the store, six miles from the nearest interstate. She said she had no idea who had bought the ticket but noted that most customers were local regulars.
