Once inside the Panorama City store, he also bought a selection of California Lottery Scratchers. The first game Vega scratched was a non-winner, but on the $10 Mystery Crossword, he uncovered all 10 words needed to win the top prize of $750,000.
"I knew I'd won something, but not that much," Vega recalled with a laugh.
Vega said he usually just plays Scratchers games for fun and the most he's ever won before this was $120.
"It's always in the back of your head that you can win it big," Vega said. "I'm still in disbelief."
The win came at a great time for Vega, whose L.A. County house recently burned down.
He plans on using the winnings to help his family, including his mom, who lost her home to foreclosure.