Local Contractors Discover Time Capsule of Vintage Lunch Receipts During East Aurora Renovation

When Straightline General Contractors began their latest commercial renovation project in the historic Village of East Aurora, they expected to find the usual suspects: outdated wiring, ancient plumbing, and maybe a few architectural surprises. What they didn’t expect was to uncover a perfectly preserved collection of lunch receipts from 1962, featuring the most budget-friendly prices that would make modern diners weep.

A Taste of Yesterday’s Prices

The collection of yellowed papers, found tucked behind a wall panel, revealed some eye-popping figures:

• Hamburger and fries: 35 cents
• Coffee (unlimited refills): 10 cents
• Daily special with pie: 75 cents
• Premium sandwich with “all the fixins”: 45 cents

“These prices are giving me emotional damage,” jokes one of the project managers. “I just paid $16 for a sandwich yesterday.”

Modern Renovations Meet Vintage Charm

While the renovation project continues to modernize the historic building’s infrastructure, the discovery has sparked conversations about East Aurora’s rich history. Local historians are particularly interested in the fact that someone was organized enough to keep their lunch receipts but careless enough to lose them behind a wall.

The renovation team has been careful to preserve the building’s historic character while bringing it into the 21st century. However, they draw the line at preserving 1962 prices, much to everyone’s disappointment.

A Lesson in Inflation

Using these receipts as a teaching moment, local economists calculate that what cost 35 cents in 1962 would now cost approximately $3.50 – still significantly less than today’s actual prices. This discovery has led to numerous complaints about “the good old days” and several dramatic sighs from younger team members.

Straightline General Contractors remains committed to completing the renovation on schedule, though they admit the temptation to search for more vintage treasures is strong. They’ve promised to alert the community if they find any more historical artifacts, particularly if they discover any winning lottery tickets from the 1960s that somehow haven’t expired.

The renovation project continues, with workers now checking behind every wall panel – not necessarily for structural purposes, but in hopes of finding more fascinating glimpses into East Aurora’s past. Though preferably, next time, they’re hoping to find something more valuable than proof that lunch used to be really, really cheap.