Gilmanton Corner Store sells $1.35 million lottery ticket

GILMANTON — Gilmanton Corner Store owner David Smith has been excited about the first summer of the resurgence of the Province Road convenience store. Somewhere out there, so is the winner of a $1.35 million lottery ticket.

While the winner surely got lucky, Smith said the store also benefits, with a $13,500 payday, as the establishment makes 1% of lottery ticket sales. He plans to put that money right back into the store, to enhance his kitchen and food offerings.

Smith said the store recently sold a big winner, but he doesn’t know to who. He thought at first it may have been a regular customer, but nobody indicated they came away a millionaire after visiting the small general store at the intersection of routes 140 and 107.

“Someone must have claimed the prize, because we heard from the lottery people,” Smith said. “It is pretty wild. Obviously, it feels awesome.”

The winner bought a $25 scratch ticket called “$2,000,000 Ultimate Granite Bonus.” While Smith isn’t sure of the exact date it was sold, he was notified, on July 22, about selling a top prize. He also received a notice in the mail from New Hampshire Lottery on Aug. 4.

Smith said there are a few people who come in to buy the higher-priced scratch tickets. He always thought they were a little much for his taste. Now, he’s not so sure.

“I can’t spend that much money; I like the $3 ones,” Smith said, laughing. “I thought it was a little silly, but now this got me thinking anyone could win.”

Smith said there are only 30 tickets of that type that come to the store, and by the time he was notified, only about half had been purchased. While he said it could still be a regular who isn’t offering any clues, there are also people who stop in while driving through the area who could have earned a stroke of good luck.

Smith has been living in Gilmanton for about 20 years, and was a longtime employee of New Hampshire Ball Bearings in Laconia. While working there, he would tell coworkers about his dream to renovate the convenience store, vacant after several attempts over the years to get back up and running by owners with different visions.

He began renovating the store in January, and opened it up in May, just in time for the summer. It still has the creaky floors and rustic appeal of a building coming up on about 100 years old, with a bit of a facelift and a renewed energy.

After gutting the interior and refinishing the original hardwood floors, Smith spent the spring securing products to be sold at the store. This included the common convenience store varieties of beer, wine, cigarettes, Coca-Cola and Frito Lay products, and also working to create a deli for grab-and-go cold sandwiches.

He has a whole wall dedicated to local products, including maple syrup, soap, locally-made sauce, and wine from Gilmanton Winery. The store even has local photography and artwork for sale.

Since the store’s opening, he has served more than 800 Italian subs, his clear best seller. He said there has been a little bit of an uptick in lottery sales since the big winner.

“One guy came in — his family comes up on Fridays — and he got four Italians and four of that lottery ticket,” Smith said. “That was a big order. It was a family of four, so they can all have an Italian and all scratch a ticket.”

Smith said business has been solid, with his second best Saturday last weekend. There have been some expected ups and downs, but for the most part, it’s been a good summer.

He's had a great reception from people coming into the store, some who have thanked him for reopening a relic of the past they remembered from long ago. Smith is proud of his crew, settling into the routine and carrying on a tradition still talked about by community members.

“A lot of people talk about the old owners and the transformations from over the years, but this one is pretty huge compared to what they’ve seen before.”

One thing is missing from the store, however: hot meals. Smith said people will come in looking for breakfast sandwiches, and leave once they find out they don’t have them. Others will ask for something to eat other than a sub for dinner.

The chunk of money the store received from the big lottery win will continue Smith’s endeavor. While he's not interested in serving pizza and fried food, the winning lottery ticket has essentially opened up a new door by providing the capital to upgrade the kitchen.

“That will help me bring in the hot food I’ve been planning on,” Smith said.