Hinsdale’s Shell Food Mart Honored By Illinois Lottery For Decades Of Creative Community Engagement
Photo caption: From left – Sharon Homolka, Martin Gmeiner (founder, in a lottery ball costume), John Archer and Robin Gabriel (co-owners) outside Shell Food Mart in Hinsdale in 1985 (photo courtesy: John Archer).
CHICAGO, July 16, 2025 — In celebration of Lottery Week, July 14-19, 2025, the Illinois Lottery proudly spotlights Shell Food Mart in Hinsdale, IL—a longtime retail partner with more than four decades of dedication, creativity, and community connection.
“The local communities we serve are the foundation of the Illinois Lottery,” said Harold Mays, Director of the Illinois Lottery. “Our nearly 7,000 retail partners across the State are essential to our mission and to the impact we have on education and other good causes.”
Located at 210 E. Ogden Ave., Shell Food Mart opened in 1981 as Arco AM PM Mini-Market, founded by Martin Gmeiner. Longtime co-owner John Archer began working there as a cashier in 1982. In 2007, he and fellow cashier Robin Gabriel bought the store.
What has set Shell Food Mart apart is not just its longevity but also its joyful, creative approach to lottery sales.
“The lottery once sent us a giant ball costume, and we used it to wave customers in from the street,” recalled Archer. “People loved it—it cracked them up, and they came rushing in to buy tickets.”
Over the years, Shell Food Mart has earned a loyal following—and a reputation as a “lucky” lottery destination.
In 2023, the store was named one of Illinois’ top 10 “winningest” retailers for selling the most winning Mega Millions tickets. To celebrate, the Illinois Lottery hosted a Mega Millions Ticket Grab Challenge at the store during the historic $1.25 billion jackpot.
Photo Caption: Illinois Lottery hosted a Mega Millions Ticket Grab Challenge at Shell Food Mart, drawing crowds eager for free tickets and a chance at the $1.25 billion prize (photo courtesy: Illinois Lottery).
“We had a line the whole time,” said Archer. “The energy was incredible. It was a moment we’ll never forget.”
Today, Shell Food Mart continues to evolve by offering modern conveniences such as credit card-enabled lottery machines, while maintaining the warm, welcoming spirit that has made it a neighborhood fixture.
“We’re always looking for ways to make playing easier and more fun for our customers,” Archer added. “And I always tell them—even if this ticket isn’t the winner, the next one might be!”
As the Illinois Lottery marks more than 50 years of giving back, it celebrates the nearly 7,000 retailers—such as Shell Food Mart—who not only sell tickets but help build lasting community connections through every scratch and draw.
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About the Illinois Lottery
The Illinois Lottery, founded in 1974, has contributed over $25 billion to the State’s Common School Fund in support of K-12 public education in Illinois since 1985. The Common School Fund is the Illinois Lottery’s primary beneficiary, receiving nearly 99% of Illinois Lottery proceeds. The Illinois Lottery also supports various specialty causes as described in the Illinois Lottery Law (20 ILCS 1605/21.4). For more information about the Illinois Lottery and the causes we support, please visit IllinoisLottery.com.