Party World one of MI's luckiest stores

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. (WOOD) - It's deja vu: Not even one week ago, hundreds of people flocked to party stores and gas stations, anxious to get their hands on Mega Millions lottery tickets as the pot skyrocketed.

On Tuesday, it was the same story. Only this time, the jackpot was up to $355 million -- the second-highest Mega Millions total ever. The winning numbers were 4, 8, 15, 25, 47, 42, with odds of winning at 1 in 179 million, and a cash payout of more than $220 million. Two people in Idaho and Washington had the winning tickets. Three people in Michigan -- Adrian, Canton and Livonia -- matched five numbers, but not the mega number, and won $250,000 each.

Many West Michigan residents rushed to Party World, in Comstock Park, a store that has sold tickets to five winners since 2007. Three people have banked more than $1 million, and the biggest payout ever won at this location was $57 million.

Located at Alpine Avenue and Six Mile Road, the store features an apparent lucky four-leaf clover that the store owner found out back about 20 years ago.

"Oh yeah, we've heard about this store," Steve Spinler said. "Everybody knows about Party World."

The lines were long and filled with people dreaming big; spending $1s, $5s, $10s, $20s -- even dropping $100s for a shot at the jackpot.

"Buy a house, a new car -- you know, the American dream," Toni Tefano said.

Laura Anda said if she won the jackpot, she would pay off her bills and buy a place to live.

From the easy-pick computer numbers, to people playing multiple forms, everyone had his or her own strategy for success. State lottery officials said there's a 50/50 chance of winning either way.

When it comes to hot spots, Party World is definitely on the radar of state lottery officials. But the past 10 Mega Millions winners in Michigan have come from every corner of the state; the only so-called cluster is in the Detroit area, which has more people.

But West Michigan residents seemed to be more than happy testing their luck at Party World on Tuesday night as the hours winded down.

"When it gets big enough, you can't resist," Spinler said. "You just got to come here. This is where you have to get 'em."