A starving sandwich-seeker could pace Main Street in Biddeford for days and never know George’s Sandwich Shop was just out of view down an easily missed side road.

It’s fortunate that little pacing is necessary since everyone in town seems to know exactly where George’s is, in an unassuming building on unassuming Franklin Street.

That’d be just around the corner from where George’s used to be, and where the sign in the former shop window still reads, “We’ve moved just around the corner,” as though the move happened recently rather than years ago.

The “we’ve moved” sign has become a permanent staple of downtown, just like George’s.

You can mention the sandwich shop to locals and the response is typically, “Oh, I love George’s,” followed by a pause in which the responder seems to fondly flash back to sandwiches past.

The shop is frill-free and, according to locals who’ve been getting sandwiches there for years, essentially unchanged for ages.

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A note on the front door alerts newcomers that George’s is a cash-only operation. The back-lit menu board hanging over the counter provides a few more important facts. One: All sandwiches come with tomato, American cheese, pickle, peppers, onion, olives, salt, pepper and oil. Two: You can get any sandwich you want, so long as it’s an Italian. Three: They’re closed on Mondays.

The simplicity has clearly paid off, and locals don’t seem to mind planning ahead with a trip to the ATM. They don’t seem to mind waiting in line for Italian goodness either, though it helps that the line at George’s moves quickly.

At the counter, diners can decide on the details of their Italian. There are the meats to choose from — like Genoa salami, ham, turkey, roast beef or chicken salad — the soft white or wheat roll, the oil on the sandwich or on the side.

The affordable regular Italians run from $3.50 (salami, ham, veggie) to $5.50 (tuna). For about a buck more, they’ll even double the meat.

For lunchers who have trouble making game-time decisions between meats, George’s offers two-way Italians like salami and ham ($4.25), turkey and ham ($5.50) or roast beef and turkey ($6.55). Go meat wild with the three-way Genoa salami, ham and turkey ($6.60) or roast beef, ham and turkey ($7.25).

Whatever you decide, staff at the register will take your order, asking your preference for oil and seasonings. You might debate the pros and cons of olives or request provolone cheese instead of American (an extra $.35) without realizing that behind the counter, no one’s writing the order down.

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They just remember things at George’s. And they seem to have sandwich-making efficiency down to a science, for even out-the-door-lines move along with relative ease. Customers can call ahead if they’re feeling crunched for time.

And the sandwiches, with those divine slices of pickle, that cushion of fresh bread, that dousing of oil, are worth a detour to grab some cash. Or get a few bucks from a co-worker in exchange for picking him up a sandwich, too. He’ll be glad to lend you money anytime.

The Features staff anonymously samples meals for about $7.

 


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