Mega Millions winner bought ticket in Bronx

By MATTHEW CHAYES
matthew.chayes@newsday.com

1+17+31+37+54+31 = $166.5 million.

That's the winning equation for one lucky lottery player who bought a Mega Millions game ticket at a Bronx grocery store near Fordham University.
The six numbers were drawn Friday night as part of the multistate lottery, worth $333 million. So far, the winner, who has a year to claim the prize, hasn't come forward. He or she will split the money with another lucky player who bought a ticket in San Gabriel, Calif., officials said. That person has also not stepped forward.
The winning numbers on the Bronx ticket were picked at random, and the winner chose to receive annual payments, said New York's lottery spokeswoman, Jennifer Givner.
The grocery store that sold the ticket, Fordham Convenience at 38 W. Fordham Rd., will get a $10,000 bonus, Givner said.
Michael Patel, a store manager, jokingly shrugged off the store's bonus when compared to the $166.5 million. "Ten thousand dollars - no big deal," he laughed. "Only $10,000?"
California lottery spokeswoman Monique Blue said the Chinese restaurant that sold the other winning ticket, Kim Ky Noodle, will get $832,500.
In the Bronx, the store has posted a sign announcing that the store sold the winning ticket. And business is now booming, Patel said.
"People say, 'Your store is lucky!' " said Patel, 60. Then, he had to cut short the interview because business at the grocery store had become so good.