Lightning strikes twice at West Dundee store

In 2006, when a West Dundee man won $1 million from a scratch-and-win game he bought at Anil Shah's convenience store, the winner said he planned to buy more lottery tickets.

"Lightning sometimes strikes twice," he said.

That phrase took on new meaning for Shah on Monday, when he sold a scratch-and-win game that won another local man a $1 million prize.

Shah, who runs Route 31 Pantry and Liquors in West Dundee, called his second jackpot a "miracle."

"I hit another one, buddy," Shah said. "I'm going to put up a big sign."

Monday's win was similar to the 2006 jackpot. A regular customer came in and bought nine scratch-and-win games. The 2006 winner, also a regular, bought 10 games.

Both winners scratched several games before finding the winning ticket. When they did, both were in disbelief.

"He saw the number ... and he was not sure," Shah said, recalling Monday's events. "So I said, 'Yeah man, you got it.'"

"He couldn't speak anything for like a minute. I don't know what was going on in his mind."

The winner told Shah he planned to use the money, an estimated $720,000 after taxes, to pay off his bills and his mortgage and buy his dream car.

Like the 2006 winner, the Fox Valley police officer who won on Monday is trying to keep a low profile.

"On the advice of my attorney, sir, I have no comment," said the man, who asked not to be named.