Living the American Dream all of a sudden

Remember the $64 million Texas Lottery ticket that was sold in Sunset Heights earlier this month? The owner of the Shop & Save quickie mart where the ticket was sold got $500,000, his share of the jackpot — and now we know more about him and what he plans to do with his newfound fortune.

The store owner, Tony Nguyen, and his wife came to the U.S. from Vietnam in 1991 and have been working ever since. They bought the convenience store at 2626 Yale about five years ago, but it's a safe bet they never expected to have a half-million dollars (about $375,000 after taxes) fall in their laps. Nguyen told the Chronicle he'll pay off some bills and his motrgage, set aside some money for his 5-year-old son's education and bring his brother and sister, who still live in Vietnam, to the U.S. In a few years, he hopes to sell his store, and buy an apartment building.

It's a classic American Dream story, complete with the part about a large sum of money being given to you randomly. As for the $64 million jackpot, it's still unclaimed — maybe you guys should start checking your lottery tickets.