Granite City Shopper Wins $1 Million on Scratch-Off Bought at
Curly’s Corner Market

GraniteCityGossip.com May 15, 2026

A Granite City woman who stops by her neighborhood store almost every day is now celebrating a $1 million Illinois Lottery win. Cynthia, who lives in Granite City, claimed the top prize on a $10 Money Match scratch-off ticket she purchased at Curly’s Corner Market, located at 527 Maryville Road. The store will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

According to the Illinois Lottery, Cynthia chose the ticket on a whim. “I shop at this store almost every day, the staff know me by name,” she said. “I wanted to try a different game, so I picked this one.”

She scratched the ticket during a break at work and immediately realized something was different. “I had to look twice to make sure I wasn’t seeing things,” she recalled. “One of my coworkers even checked in on me, I started shaking.”

Her first call was to her husband, who didn’t believe her at first. “He thought I was pranking him because I could barely get the words out,” she said. She also shared the news with a friend who works at Curly’s. “I called him, and he said, ‘No way, we were just talking about retirement,’” she added.

Cynthia already has plans for her winnings, including home improvements, a new car, and a Disney trip with her grandchildren. She and her husband also intend to take the honeymoon they never had.

“My husband and I have been married for 17 years but never had a honeymoon,” she said. “You bet we’re going to one of the most romantic places in the world— France.”

The Illinois Lottery reports that Instant Tickets ranging from $1 to $50 are available at about 7,000 retailers statewide. So far this year, players have claimed more than $606 million in prizes from nearly 22 million winning tickets. The Illinois Lottery reminds players to play for fun, not funds. Be Smart, Play Smart.