ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- The lights are out and the doors are locked at the Elite 71 Internet Café. It was one of 51 centers shut down by the investigation into Allied Veterans of the World.
Ken Growlow now hopes his business, United Optical Outlet, isn't next.
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VETERANS CHARITY SCANDAL: SPECIAL COVERAGE]
"They were very busy most of the time especially at the beginning of the month when a lot of people got paid and the middle of the month. You couldn't get a parking spot here," said Growlow.
The sweepstakes center took up three stores at the Clay County shopping plaza. It could take years for all of the spaces to be leased out.
"Blanding Boulevard is a pretty busy road. So I believe someone will be here soon. I hope," said Growlow.
Florida House and Senate committees both passed bills that would make internet gaming centers illegal. If it is signed into law, Growlow says, this will become a problem in the entire state.
"You are going to get a little bit of business from them, but I think it hurt us more than what we got," he said.
Federal officials say Allied Veterans of the World only used two percent of the money it brought in to help veterans.
"How many people could have been effected positively if the money had been spent the right way?" asked Growlow.
Growlow says not helping these veterans hurts his business more than any empty store front.
