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Eating Through the Recession: Even the Recession Special Is Going Up!

October 23, 2008 at 12:00 PM | by | Comments (0)

For years, New Yorkers and savvy visitors have eaten through good times and lean by relying on the dirt-cheapest deal around: The ubiquitous Gray's Papaya hot dog chain.

Gray's "Recession Special" started nearly 20 years ago--offering two hot dogs and a drink for the ridiculously low price of $1.95. It's crept up to $3.50 over the years, but now it's set to take another massive jump:

"I'm as suicidal as everybody else," Mr. Gray said with a sigh in a recent phone interview.

In fact, he added, the downturn will soon force a shift in one aspect of the recession special: The price. This week, the special will rise to $4.45 from $3.50, Mr. Gray said.

"Tell them I'm weeping as I do it," he said.

Say it ain't so, Gray! Although, sad as it is to say, $4.45 might still be the cheapest lunch in New York.

We've added Gray's to our new Recession Restaurants Map.

Related Stories:
· Gray's Papaya [Official Site]
· A Cheap Lunch Takes a Hit [NYT]
· New NYC Restaurant: Dogmatic Sausage System [Jaunted]

[Photo: Tom in NYC]

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