This Small Island Diner Keeps Making Millionaires And No One Can Explain Why

April 7, 2026

There’s something special cooking at one small island diner, and it’s not just the food.

A cozy spot on Nantucket has quietly become one of the luckiest places in Massachusetts, turning everyday customers into millionaires again and again.

The Old South Diner in Nantucket / Winner Mary Haley

At the center of this incredible streak is the Old South Diner in Nantucket, where yet another life-changing lottery win was recently served up. The Massachusetts State Lottery confirmed that a $2 million Powerball ticket was sold there, marking the fifth million-dollar prize tied to the diner in just two years.

This time, the winner is longtime Nantucket resident Mary Haley, who claimed her prize surrounded by supportive friends. For Haley, the moment felt bigger than just a personal win—it was a celebration for the whole community.

“I was born and raised on Nantucket,” she said. “It’s very exciting to have a local resident win.”

Haley plans to put part of her winnings toward a new car, but she also pointed out something that regulars already know: the diner has become more than just a place to grab a bite. It’s where locals gather, chat, and try their luck together.

And that luck has been remarkably consistent.

The diner’s winning run began on March 11, 2024, when a visitor from Boston scratched off a $1 million prize. Just a few months later, in June, another customer—this time a Hyannis worker—won $2 million. By August, an island chef casually stopping in for a snack walked away with $1 million of his own.

Then came even more big wins, including another $2 million prize from a scratch ticket game shortly after it launched in early 2024. That winner chose a lump sum payout of $1.3 million before taxes and said they planned to save the money.

All told, the diner has sold at least five tickets worth $1 million or more, earning $60,000 in bonuses along the way. The surge in winners has also sparked a 37% jump in lottery sales at the location, placing it among the top-performing lottery retailers in the state.

Manager Binod BK summed it up best when the streak first began: “There’s something about this place.”