1970s Grocery Store Prices: What $10 Could Buy at Crichton’s

Welcome to Crichton’s: The Grocery Store We Grew Up On

If you were lucky enough to grow up around West Dundee in the 1970s, chances are Crichton’s Grocery Store was a regular stop in your weekly routine. That little shop off Route 72 wasn’t just a place to pick up milk and eggs—it was a community hub. Everyone knew someone in the aisles. The carts wobbled, the floors squeaked, and somehow everything felt just right.

I found an old Crichton’s ad recently, and it brought everything rushing back. We’re talking Swanson chicken TV dinners for 49 cents, 8-packs of Coca-Cola in glass bottles for less than a buck, and boneless pot roast for 79 cents a pound. Seeing those prices made me smile, not just because of the deals, but because of the memories they stirred up—walking the aisles with my parents, helping bag groceries, and getting a free cookie from the bakery.

It reminded me a lot of how our food and shopping culture shifted over the decades. Similar to how fast food reshaped dining out, like in this amazing McDonald’s drive-thru origin story, grocery stores like Crichton’s shaped how we cooked and ate at home.

When 49 Cents Bought You Dinner

Let’s be honest—today you can’t even buy a pack of gum for 49 cents. But back in the 70s? That could buy you a full Swanson chicken TV dinner. I remember watching TV with my family, that aluminum tray hot from the oven, the mashed potatoes steaming in their corner compartment, and some sort of chocolate surprise waiting in the dessert slot.

The ad I found also listed things like pre-cooked shrimp (10 ounces!) for 79 cents, two quarts of ketchup for just a few dimes, and big loaves of bread for 11 cents. That kind of grocery list made it easier for families to feed everyone without breaking the bank. And it wasn’t just about the food—it was about the rituals, the planning, and the sense of home that came with it.

It’s wild to look back and compare it to now, where grocery shopping often feels more like a chore than a routine. But remembering stores like Crichton’s? It reminds me how much charm and heart there used to be in everyday errands.

The Magic of the Weekly Ad

Back then, that paper ad was everything. You’d find it stuffed in the newspaper or slid into your storm door, and it was like opening a treasure map. My mom would sit at the kitchen table circling deals—“Coca-Cola 8-pack, 79 cents!” “Miracle Whip, just 56 cents!”—and we’d plan our meals around what was cheapest that week.

We didn’t have online coupons or digital apps back then. This was old-school budgeting with a ballpoint pen and a stack of coupons cut with dull scissors. That’s part of what made shopping at Crichton’s feel so personal. You weren’t just there to fill a cart—you were part of a rhythm, a lifestyle that was rooted in saving a buck but also making the most of every dinner. Even Kraft Miracle Whip and Heinz ketchup had a little more magic back then.

Crichton’s and the Flavor of Simpler Times

You know what hit me hardest when I looked at this ad? It wasn’t just the prices—it was the whole vibe. “Be our guest, enjoy a cup of shopping.” That line. That’s hospitality you don’t see anymore. Grocery stores today might be bigger, flashier, but back then? It felt like a neighbor inviting you in.

The smell of fresh bread near the register. The old cashier who always asked about your grandparents. The cardboard box of produce misted just enough to make everything look fresh. That’s the kind of shopping experience you remember forever.

It’s why I love collecting and sharing ads like this one—just like I did when digging into this nostalgic tale of fast food signs in the ‘90s. These little windows into the past help us appreciate where we came from… and remind us of a time when even grocery shopping had a little soul.

Grocery Prices That Make You Do a Double-Take

When I first looked at this Crichton’s grocery ad, I had to blink a few times at the prices. Boneless rolled pot roast for 79¢ a pound? A pack of Coca-Cola bottles for under a buck? And don’t even get me started on the 5-pound bag of red plums—just 59 cents. These weren’t just good deals; they were the kind of prices that built Sunday dinners, school lunches, and backyard barbecues.

It reminded me of how much grocery shopping used to be about stocking up. You didn’t just buy for today—you loaded your cart for the whole week, maybe longer. And when stores like Crichton’s ran ads like this, families planned their meals around the savings. Seeing old-school staples like pot roast and Swiss steak brought back the same cozy feeling as stories from this reflection on what a 1940s train dining car felt like—classic, hearty, and timeless.

TV Dinners, Charcoal, and That Midweek Magic

One of my favorite parts of this ad is how it doesn’t just focus on the meat or produce—it paints a full picture of family life. Charcoal for $2.09? That meant grilling season was in full swing. A box of Swanson Chicken TV Dinners for 49¢? That was your backup plan for nights when you didn’t want to cook after work.

That little touch—”Be our guest, enjoy a cup of shopping”—made me smile. Stores like Crichton’s weren’t sterile chain setups. They were places that genuinely welcomed you in, remembered your name, and gave out free coffee while you browsed. It’s the kind of local charm that echoes what you’ll still find in small-town places today—like how this 1970s Branson snapshot captures the warmth of simpler times without ever trying too hard.

Shrimp, Egg Rolls, and the Rise of Freezer Section Feasts

What really caught my eye was the chunking meat and shrimp egg rolls in this ad. It may not sound like a big deal today, but in the 1970s? That was exotic! These weren’t just convenience foods—they were a peek into new flavors people were bringing home for the first time.

Freezers were starting to fill with more than just frozen peas and ice trays. This ad with egg rolls, Swanson TV dinners, and even pre-cooked shrimp shows that dinner variety was suddenly just a thaw away. If you liked digging through the freezer for something new, you’d probably get a kick out of this classic 1970s McDonald’s drive-thru origin story, where convenience started redefining how we ate on the go.

Fresh Produce and the Original 5-A-Day Push

One thing Crichton’s ad made clear: produce was king. Grapes for 39¢, green peppers, cucumbers, onions, radishes—it was a veggie lover’s dream. Back then, you didn’t need a “superfood” label to know your dinner plate should be colorful.

I remember my mom grabbing bunches of radishes and slicing them paper-thin for salads. And those new red potatoes? Always perfect for pot roast night. Grocery ads like this weren’t just about savings—they were the weekly reminder to eat fresh. Looking at this brings back the same kind of wholesome simplicity you’d find in this 1940s Missouri Ozarks lifestyle snapshot. Homegrown, hearty, and rooted in tradition.

Soda by the Crate and the Glass Bottle Glow-Up

That “8 pack of 16 oz. Coca-Cola bottles” for 79¢? Man, that’s a memory that hits. Those thick glass bottles weren’t just containers—they were part of the experience. Crichton’s had them stacked in wooden crates, ice-cold and clinking. You didn’t toss those bottles in the trash either. You brought them back, collected your deposit, and grabbed a fresh one for next week’s backyard cookout.

Coke wasn’t just a drink—it was an icon, just like it is in this story on the first delivery of Coca-Cola to Knoxville in 1919. Back then, Coke was growing fast, and by the time Crichton’s rolled out this ad, it had fully cemented itself as America’s favorite refreshment.

When Steak Was 59¢ and Nobody Blinked

Take a moment to picture this: boneless pot roast for 79¢ and Swiss steak for 59¢ per pound. That wasn’t a markdown; that was the going rate. My family would stock up, freeze what we could, and plan Sunday dinner around whatever cut Crichton’s had on special. That’s how you stretched a dollar and still ate like royalty.

These kinds of deals were a lifeline to families just trying to get by—especially after the wild ride of inflation in the early ’70s. If you’re into these slices of life, you’ll get a kick out of a day in the life of a 1950s milkman, which shows exactly how much our everyday food routine has changed over the years.