SACRAMENTO – Ed and Hanan Hawatmeh are the owners of Porter Ranch Liquor, a bright and friendly store in Northridge. Due to their success and hard work, Porter Ranch Liquor was recognized as the California Lottery’s statewide “Retailer of the Month” for October 2008.
“Porter Ranch Liquor has wonderful enthusiasm, and the originality displayed in the promotion of Lottery products is commendable,” said California Lottery Director Joan Borucki. “Their dedication to their customers, involvement with their community and focus on promoting the Lottery with a positive attitude makes for a successful sales formula.”
The Hawatmehs take pride in keeping their Lottery customers happy. In addition to conducting bi-monthly promotions to keep things interesting, they also regularly feature more than 36 Scratchers, ensuring that there is never a shortage of variety. They also relocated their Lottery terminal to a more central location and keep their playcenter well stocked in an effort to better serve their customers.
Porter Ranch Liquor has been a Lottery retailer since September 2006. With average weekly sales of more than $13,000 in Lottery products, their customers have helped contribute more than $1.2 million to California public schools.
Customers say the Hawatmehs offer local charm and a familiar feel at Porter Ranch Liquor – a place where “everybody knows your name.” They always have a smile for each and every customer and ensure that their customers feel welcome and appreciated. Demonstrating their commitment to the local community, the Hawatmehs contribute regularly to Northridge Academy and Northridge Parks and Recreation programs as well as co-sponsor the Devonshire Police Department yearbook.
Each month since 1986, the California Lottery presents a statewide "Retailer of the Month" award to one of more than 20,000 Lottery retailers in the state. Lottery enthusiasm, creative merchandising, pride of ownership and, most of all, a connection to the community are the defining criteria for each “Retailer of the Month.” At the end of the year, one "Retailer of the Month" is honored as the statewide California Lottery "Retailer of the Year.” A “Retailer of the Year” receives $5,000 and a specialized gold leaf California Lottery terminal in recognition of the retailer’s success.
Hanan and Ed Hawatmeh, owners of Porter Ranch Liquor
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More than 95 cents of every Lottery dollar is returned to the community in the form of contributions to education, prizes and retail commissions. The California Lottery contributes at least 34 cents of every dollar that players spend on Lottery products to public education and returns more than 50 percent of sales to players in the form of prizes. Since its inception in 1985, the Lottery has contributed more than $20 billion to California schools out of total sales of nearly $55 billion. Retailers benefit too, earning $3.5 billion in compensation since 1985.