A Clam Tavern gift certificate that expired 40 years ago was nonetheless honored by the restaurant recently for two sisters who found it while cleaning out their deceased mother’s home, writes Victor Fiorillo for Philadelphia Magazine.

Sisters Sue Holden and Cindy Miller lost their mom in 2022 and were cleaning out their mom’s house with siblings Lisa DiSalle and Judy Ngro when it turned up.

The $25 gift certificate, dated June 15, 1984, was actually a thank-you from DiSalle and her husband for helping them buy their first home.

 “She was a bit of a hoarder,” Holden said of her mom.. “We found hundreds of birthday and thank-you cards just stuffed in her cabinets, many with cash still in them. I can’t even tell you how much money it added up to. But it was a lot.”

Even though the certificate expired after a year, Tony Blanche, Clam Tavern owner since 1999, decided to honor it.

“To me, it was a no-brainer,” says Blanche. “This is called the hospitality business. We’re here to spread joy and cheer. There wasn’t really a question of whether to take it or not.”

Find out more about this unique dining transaction in Philadelphia Magazine.

Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on DELCO Today in September 2024.