 |
The California Lottery’s 2004 Retailer of the Year is San Dimas Liquor & Beverage Shoppe, owned by Wafa and Nathan Younan. A ceremony was held last month at the retail establishment to celebrate the honor. Those in attendance included the Younan family, Lottery staff, local dignitaries and many, many of the store’s customers.
Wajih Younan worked in Michigan in the auto industry for 25 years before moving to California. He came west with the dream of someday owning his own business. Although he is now semi-retired, he still works tirelessly and has built a successful business with his family. San Dimas Liquor & Beverage Shoppe is now run by his wife Wafa and managed by their younger son, Nathan. Younan’s older son, James, is an aspiring actor, but still works part time at the store.
“It just goes to show that a small store, located in a small shopping center, can have great sales and become a Retailer of the Year. Through hard work, good customer service and a little luck, this retailer came out on top for 2004,” said Interim Director of the California Lottery, Dennis Sequeira.
San Dimas Liquor & Beverage Shoppe averages nearly $30,000 in Lottery sales per week and has total sales-to-date of more than $12 million since it began selling Lottery products in 1989. With a minimum of 34 percent of all Lottery ticket sales benefiting public education, San Dimas Liquor & Beverage Shoppe has contributed more than $4 million to California’s public schools. Not only is this retailer a good one, but it’s a lucky one as well. To date, San Dimas Liquor & Beverage Shoppe has turned two customers into millionaires: one customer won $22 million in 1990 and the other won $4.5 million in 1998. Besides this, they have a full array of Scratchers® tickets for sale and the front window is painted every month to show Lottery enthusiasm and keep players aware of new Lottery products.
San Dimas Liquor & Beverage Shoppe and their employees are also involved in their community, Wafa and Nathan sponsor local soccer and Little League teams. When asked how they have been so successful being such a small store, Nathan sums it up perfectly, “First, we make sure everyone knows this is a lucky store. We have a lot of customers who won’t buy Lottery products anywhere else. Next we make sure all my staff treats the customers the way they want to be treated. People like to shop where they are treated well.”