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Lottery players flock to this Jacksonville store for chance at historic Mega Millions jackpot

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville’s “lucky little store.” That’s what many have come to call the Welcome Food Store on Loretto Road in Jacksonville - and for good reason.

“If you Google where to buy the most winning tickets in Jacksonville, it’ll pull up our store,” Karen Reap, manager of the Welcome Food Store told Action News Jax Friday.

“It’s the lucky store so I wanna get my chance,” lottery customer Taurus Brown added.

Now, folks on Friday are hoping that luck strikes bigger than ever, with more than $1 billion on the line in Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing - the sixth biggest jackpot ever.

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However, for those who choose the lump sum cash option, that cuts it down to $516.1 million.

Nonetheless, lottery players Action News Jax spoke to Friday morning said if they won, they know just what they’d use the money for.

“First I’d give to the churches, then to me, someone that really really needs it, homeless people, and just be a blessing,” said Sophie Avery.

“[I’d] Buy a lot of land somewhere. And help my family out, help my friends out,” said Taurus Brown.

Karen reap told Action News Jax she ultimately just hopes they get to hang up yet another banner on their wall for selling the grand prize ticket Friday night.

“It’s just exciting to see our customers - because we’re really like a family type store where we know our regulars - to see them win and a good thing happen to good people,” Reap said with a smile.

You can catch those winning numbers drawn live Friday night at 11 p.m. on FOX30 or CBS47 Action News Jax.

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