 Since lotto winner Jorma Hogbacka vowed to share some of his wealth with Tim Hortons staff, several have come forward hoping they might get a piece of Hogbacka's largesse. (Ernest Doroszuk, Sun Media file photo)
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TORONTO -- A growing number of Tim Hortons employees hope a little over-the-counter banter served with a small double-double might be enough to score $30,000.
The excitement, and phone calls, have been pouring in like a pot of always-fresh coffee since Lotto 6/49 winner Jorma Hogbacka told the nation he'd be sharing his $14.8-million windfall with five Tim Hortons employees in St. Catharines.
The Garden City resident, a single 60-year-old semi-retired welder, vowed Monday to keep a promise made long ago to give $30,000 each to the fab five, whom he hadn't seen in a few years.
Trouble is, there's more than five potential Jorma "girls" out there.
There's a least a baker's dozen of current and former employees who think they might be one of the lucky ones.
Who should be shown the money is nowhere near as clear-cut as a Timmy's biscuit.
Hogbacka, one of three winners in Saturday's $44.4-million draw, said Monday the Lucky Ladies worked at the Ontario Street Tim Hortons.
Problem is, there are two locations on the stretch.
And there are employees -- past and present -- at each wondering if the prize is their's to claim. Several called Sun Media yesterday hoping to contact Hogbacka.
Seems Hogbacka frequented both stores, serving up catchphrases and promises of sharing lottery wins wherever he went, at least according to employees.
Erin Penny, 24, remembers serving him at the 333 Ontario St. store several afternoons. The Finland-born man would come in and ask with his distinct accent for a "small double-double without the trouble" and leave with the catchy "Have a super Monday after Sunday."
The employees even had a name for him: Loganberry.
"I can't remember why," said Penny, a Toronto legal assistant who worked at the coffee shop from 2001 to 2007.
Teresa D'Orazio, who worked at the Tim Hortons at 498 Ontario St., said she recognized Hogbacka's face as soon as she saw it splashed across newspapers and TV channels this week.
"I just want to know if I'm one of the girls," said D'Orazio, 25, a former Tim Hortons employee who works in retail.
"We did serve him at the time. I don't have any expectations or anything, but it would be cool if we were the girls," said D'Orazio, who is crossing her fingers along with former Tim's friends, Mary-Lee Campbell, 22, and Michelle Driscoll, 30, now of Sarnia.
Emeriza Jacob, 28, thinks she might know Hogbacka.
"He seems to be so familiar to me," said Jacob, a single mom who worked at the 333 Ontario St. store between January and July last year.
But Melissa Grivich, a 24-year-old police officer who lives in Welland, distinctly recalls helping Hogbacka during her time working at 333 Ontario St. store from 1998 to 2004.
"He always said that he was going to win the lottery and that he'd come back and we'd get a chunk of it and he'd help us out," said Grivich, who worked with Penny and friend, Tanya Austin, 24, who now lives in Brantford.
For now, the true lottery ladies will remain a mystery until Hogbacka comes out of hiding.
Hogbacka's phone number was never listed. Since winning, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission said the number they have on file for him has been disconnected. As of yesterday, he hadn't dropped by either Tim Hortons.
