Back to Basics

Back to Basics is a case study in setting expectations. Set some modest expectations with your offerings and pricing, follow through and deliver exactly what people expect and a little bit more, and you’ll have happy customers. It’s the new place at the North Dam Mill end of the Pepperell Mill Campus and it’s located where Perk used to be. It’s not fancy, it’s not expensive, it doesn’t try to be anything more than it is, and they get everything right.
If you want a cup of coffee and a bagel with some cream cheese, it’s here. If you want the kind of sandwich that you’d make at home, this is your place. And if you don’t want to spend a lot of money, you’ll be really happy at Back to Basics. Sandwiches are $ 5. Chips and sodas are $ 1. Cookies and brownies are different prices, but not much. Want cheese on your sandwich? Want it on a croissant instead of bread? No extra charge. Need a treat for your dog? Those are free, a local maker of dog food treats has donated some.
My studio is located in the mill and when I don’t feel like going out, this place is magic. Sure, if you walk a block, you can pay $ 10 for a bigger and fancier roast beef sandwich. But why bother when Back to Basics is really all you need. There are things that I’d love to see, egg sandwiches in the morning, kaiser or bulkie rolls, hot pastrami, tacos, etc. But that totally misses the point of what this place is. It’s a simple place to get a good basic meal and making it fancy might ruin the magic that’s here now.
Quick update (4÷16÷15): They’ve now got breakfast sandwiches, rolls sometimes, brownies, and recent specials have included tacos, chicken pot pie, and mac & cheese. Oh, and that other place with the $ 10 roast beef sandwiches a block away? It closed. Things keep getting better at Back to Basics.