Thursday, October 1, 2026
For at least three winners, Long Beach has become something of a lucky charm when it comes to playing the lottery. That’s what Yogi Mehta, owner of the East Park Avenue Smoke Shop, said he believes, after he recently sold one of four winning tickets in the $319 Mega Millions lottery jackpot.
Mehta said that one of his customers — who had yet to be revealed as the Herald went to press — picked five winning numbers on March 26 and won $250,000.
“We’ve had small winners, but nothing like this,” Mehta said, adding that he is not sure who the lucky winner is. “We’re not really sure, but a lot of our customers are regulars and we’re happy that one of our regulars hopefully won it.”
This is the third time that a major winning lottery ticket has been sold in the city this year. In January, Long Beach resident and local waitress Patricia Eisel hit all six numbers in the $21.5 million Lotto jackpot after she purchased her ticket at Sand Castle Fine Wine & Spirits.
On March 21, the New York Lottery announced that a Long Beach Take Five player, James Barrett, won $22,442 in the Jan. 24 drawing. Barrett purchased the winning ticket at the Alabama Deli on West Beech Street.
Mehta, a Long Beach resident who has owned the business for 10 years, said that he and his family were excited to learn that their store sold the latest winning ticket.
Mehta said that other customers are talking about this latest winner in Long Beach, and said that the city is becoming known for selling winning tickets.
“Our customers always hope it’s them who win, of course, but no one seems to know who it is,” he said. “They’re just antsy to find out. Long Beach is definitely a community that we’re extremely happy to be in, and it’s good to know that some of these recent winners are Long Beach residents who have worked hard all their life and are able to enjoy it now.”
