BAYVIEW — A month after Spokane real estate agent Tom Walker bought a lottery ticket at Casey’s Red Apple in Bayview, he discovered that the ticket was a winner. But that’s the way the cookie crumbled.

This week, Walker claimed $3 million from a winning Lotto ticket from the April 4 drawing.

Casey’s manager Steve Springer said the store hadn’t found out who had sold the winning lottery ticket.

“It wasn’t me,” he said with a laugh.

But it was exciting news for staff and customers alike. Casey’s staff posted the oversized check that the lottery company gave them in their window.

For selling the lucky ticket, Casey’s Red Apple Market has received a $30,000 Retail Selling Bonus from Washington’s Lottery, Springer said. It is not clear what they’ll do with the money.

Jacque Coe, Washington’s Lottery communications director, said selling a winning lottery ticket can mean big business for some stores.

“There is much superstition. It’s not uncommon to see a sales increase. People think it’s a lucky store,” she said.

Walker purchased the ticket while on a vacation in Langley. The Spokane man happened to stop in at Casey’s Red Apple supermarket, bought the ticket, put it in his wallet and forgot about it.

Weeks later, Walker was out to dinner with a friend and two fortune cookie’s were delivered to the table after the meal. Walker switched the cookies with his dining companion and the two proceeded to open and read their futures. “Mine said, ‘You will find Monday an especially important day,’” Walker recounted.

The next day, Walker was at home and remembered the old Lotto ticket and sat down at the computer to check the numbers.

“I checked it probably 25 times that day,” Walker said. “I checked it and then I got in the car and drove around for a while and went back home and checked it again.”

Walker said he left the house at least five separate times during the day to drive around in shock – each time he returned to check the ticket one more time.

Walker came to the Spokane Lottery office surrounded by 20 friends and family members to celebrate the occasion May 1.

Walker is a real estate agent for Tomlinson-Black Real Estate in Spokane and said he will continue to work in real estate. As for the money, he plans on doing a little traveling and fulfilling a longtime dream.

“I’ve always wanted to get a pilot’s license,” he said.