An Internet cafe that opened May 1 in downtown Grove City abruptly shut its doors Sept. 9, and a bad-check charge has been filed by a former employee against one of the owners.

Dan Dennis and his fiancee, Melissa McMasters, opened GeeksCafe in a rented storefront on South Broad Street. By July 1, Dennis claimed business was so good that he moved into the former Hallmark store next door, doubling the size of the cafe.

Frank Lapa, who owns a barber shop across the street, said the cafe was open the morning of Sept. 9. But in the afternoon a note was posted, saying "Closed due to a family emergency."

The bad-check charge was filed Sept. 11 by Nicole Steighner. Besides not getting a paycheck, Mrs. Steighner said she was out at least $300 in bounced-check fees. "I still haven't gotten the money. He hasn't paid me for the last two weeks I worked," she said.

Mrs. Steighner said she was told by a court official at District Justice Lawrence Silvis' office that when Dennis responded to the charge, he told Silvis he owed so much money he would have to make payments to her.

"That's not going to help me pay my car payment," she said.

Doug and Becki Wick, who had a NASCAR shop inside the business once the cafe moved to the bigger space, said they pulled out at the end of August because they were concerned with how the cafe was being run.