Lottery winner looks ahead
Seyedazim Sharif, owner of Linda’s Coffee Shop and Restaurant, reflects on life after winning $2 million
Seyedazim Sharif knew he won something when he handed the clerk his scratch ticket on Jan. 23, but he wasn't sure how much.
The clerk at the Charlottetown Atlantic Superstore on University Avenue electronically checked the ticket and came back with the news – $2 million.
"I was shaking," he said this past Thursday. "That's a lot of money."
At first, Sharif thought there might have been a mistake – maybe an extra zero or two. He counted the zeros, and to be sure, the store's C-shop manager phoned the Atlantic Lottery Corporation in Moncton to verify. After about 10 minutes, she came back and exclaimed "yes!" There was no mistake.
His wife, Zeynab, was waiting in the car. She immediately noticed that her husband was red in the face and was shaking and told him to relax. Then he told her the news. Happily, she hugged him.
Sharif, who retired from a career as a financial manager in Iran, came to Charlottetown with Zeynab, their son, Seyed Yousef, and daughter Vala in 2014. In 2017, Sharif bought Linda's Coffee Shop and Restaurant in downtown Charlottetown.
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation announced that Sharif won the $2-million prize on Feb. 3. Since then, he has become a local celebrity with media interviews and customers congratulating him on the big win. Sharif has also been receiving positive messages from friends and family in Iran. But he's also surprised with how far the news has travelled to other countries, such as Sri Lanka, Lebanon and even Australia.
"Very busy," he said with a smile.
It was a Saturday afternoon when he bought the winning 200x Multiplier Scratch’N Win ticket. He was there with his wife to pick up a few items for the restaurant and to buy the ticket, which he often did, and still does, since winning the $2-million prize. The previous day he also won a smaller amount of money playing the same game.
Prior to the big win, Sharif, 60, was no different than any other business owner during the COVID-19 pandemic.
His restaurant is popular with locals, but tourist traffic, also an important revenue source during the summer, slowed significantly with cruise ships being cancelled and travel restrictions put in place. He even had to take out a loan to help with the business. Sharif suspects this summer is shaping up to be similar to the last one, but this time, he doesn't have the same financial pressure he had before.
Sharif, who says he's keeping the restaurant, is looking to buy an apartment building as an investment and revenue source. He's also planning to help his daughter purchase a home.
On Thursday morning, the restaurant was busy with customers enjoying a cup of coffee and a meal – either sitting at tables or at the front counter. One table in particular had outbursts of laughter as someone with a group of friends celebrated a birthday.
Sharif smiles as he looks around the restaurant and sees his customers enjoying themselves.
He came to Charlottetown with his family looking for a better life. And he found it.