First store to sell KY lottery ticket closing its doors

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – A popular convenience store, which is a major lottery retailer, is closing on Saturday.

Lexington’s Dairy Mart on Reynolds Road was the first to sell a Kentucky lottery ticket in 1989.

The Kentucky Lottery says its third highest seller of Kentucky lottery tickets in the state. At one point, it was number one.

Now that it’s closing, people say they’re going to miss more than the luck they had over the years.

“I hate to see it close,” Gary Earl said. He’s been coming to Dairy Mart since 1978 – more than 40 years.

“You couldn’t ask for nicer people,” Earl said. “Eddie, the guy that owns it, is just super. He’s almost like another father or something.”

Ed White opened the family-run business in 1975, and his three sons – Steve, Joe and Blake have worked there for years. Now, White’s retiring.

Though Earl hasn’t had a major lottery win, he said the sense of community made it worthwhile.

“Even the customers that come in here – I’d say 99% of them are like friends who’ve known you forever,” Earl said.

Endia Franklin is another loyal customer, and she’s sad to see the store go.

“They became like family to me,” Franklin said. “Joe, last time my car wouldn’t start, he came right over and pulled up to the gas pump and gave me a jump.”

Plus, Franklin’s won a chunk of change over the past seven years.

“This store makes me a lot of luck,” Franklin said. “I’ve won a lot.”

Before Dairy Mart closes its doors Saturday, the Kentucky Lottery will celebrate White Friday afternoon.