Category: Retailer Spotlight

History was made in the Magnolia State when Petal Food Mart sold the highest-winning Mississippi Lottery ticket ever Feb. 10, 2025. It was a Powerball ticket matching all five Double Play white balls plus the Double Play Powerball, winning the game’s $10 million jackpot, making one player an instant millionaire and putting the small-town convenience… Continue reading Petal’s “Millionaire” Mart

Surrounded by elected officials, Mississippi Lottery Corporation Board Members and employees, media outlets and a collection of excited customers, Rep. Alyce G. Clarke made the ceremonial purchase of the first lottery ticket in Mississippi Nov. 25, 2019. Among those attendees was Ricky Singh, then owner of the H and R Raceway where the ticket was… Continue reading From the First Ticket to 5 Years Strong

Driving down Highway 90 with the warm coastal wind blowing, it’s the perfect time to take the top off the Jeep. For years, the Jeep community has been known for gifting fellow drivers with tiny rubber ducks as a symbol of kindness, fellowship and recognition. Inspired by this tradition, Circle K sought to create a… Continue reading Duckin’ the Coast—a Calling for Promotions

Pictured: West Jackson Chevron Manager, Mattie Gossett To many, the intersection of Highway 6 and Jackson Avenue in Lafayette County signifies the entrance to Oxford and with it, the University of Mississippi. The West Jackson Chevron is one of the first convenience stores to greet visitors and locals alike. Originally a full-service station more than… Continue reading A Warm Welcome to Oxford

When it comes to lottery sales, even a small retailer can pack a powerful punch. Take Finish Line in Hattiesburg for example. What the store lacks in size – if it were a home, it could accommodate two people, but only if they really like each other – it makes up for in location, preparation… Continue reading Small But Mighty

For nearly 20 days, Rick’s Express #3 on Highway 61 was the only store open in Rolling Fork after a March 24, 2023, tornado devastated the area, despite the fact the store was without power like the rest of the community. Peter and Rita Parmar, store managers, were on-site when the tornado lashed the city.… Continue reading Power of Community

There’s a small gathering of people milling about and visiting just outside the doors of Tobacco Mart on Highway 51 in Brookhaven. Inside, a man positioned at the lottery scanner checks his sack of tickets while chatting with the store clerks. That’s the vibe Tobacco Mart in Brookhaven embraces, encourages and welcomes. Most of the… Continue reading Simply Successful

Rural location has its advantages About 15 miles east of the Columbus corporate limit sign, on an often-lonely stretch of U.S. Highway 82, there’s a convenience store that, considering the population around it, considerably outkicks its coverage. Sprint Mart #4107 prominently displays Mississippi Lottery tickets and adapted the play center to a countertop unit, forgoing… Continue reading Livin’ on the Edge

Times have changed, but promoting a quality family-run business isn’t fleeting Pictured left to right: Tiffany Trotter, Regional Manager, and Shinotta Henderson, General Manager. Customer service and promoting a business have transformed through the years. Long gone are the days when service attendants pumped gas, washed windshields, all while chatting with regular customers. Those practices… Continue reading The Power of Promotions

Natchez has a longstanding, albeit colorful, association with gambling. On occasion, what went on in the rough and rowdy gambling Mecca of Natchez-under-the-Hill leached into Natchez proper, as when a mob of Kentucky boatmen ceased their three-day riot at Natchez-under-the-Hill only after city officials aimed a cannon at them from the bluffs above. Rest assured,… Continue reading A Natchez Staple

Andy’s 5th Avenue Quickstop in Cleveland is fueled by customer service, and in case Rule No. 1 slips an employee’s mind, it’s posted at the end of the counter. “Always keep in mind you are here for the customer, not the other way around,” is at the top of the list. At the bottom, there’s… Continue reading Andy’s: Customer Service for the Neighborhood

The Mississippi Lottery terminal touts Cash 4 on the first day of sales, but there’s not a soft drink in site. The lottery’s “Play Here” sign hangs in the window, between posts for ice chests and chain saws. The draw-games schedule is taped below the register, just 30 feet from the plastic worms and fishing… Continue reading Small Town Retailer Lets Players Aim for Big Bucks