At Groucho's Deli we want to give everyone the best experience possible, including the Earth we stand on.

We are able to do this through our biodegradable to-go boxes and containers, provided to us by Tellus. A Tellus to-go box is made out of plant fibers including sugarcane to create innovative boxes, bowls, and to-go containers that compost back into the Earth in only 84 days. Tellus also only creates, ships and packages their products from the state of Florida, keeping their carbon footprint extremely low. However, just because the to-go containers are made of plants and compost in 84 days, doesn't mean they aren't durable. Every container that Tellus produces is extremely heavy duty, geared to perform through the power of plants. So you don't need to worry about your food crashing through the bottom of the box.

Over the past year, Groucho’s Deli and Tellus have kept 1.6 million styrofoam boxes out of landfills. This is a number we are both extremely proud of and we can’t wait to see the lasting effects of this movement.

To better share what we do with Tellus, Groucho's Deli is hosting a Sustainability Day at the 5 points and West Columbia locations on March 14th and 15th. Make sure to stop by!

Being a vegetarian is no easy feat, especially in the South, where barbecue and seafood reign supreme. Groucho’s Deli was no exception. For almost four decades, Groucho's Deli was synonymous with meat-centric offerings.

That was until 1980, when proprietor Ivan Miller decided to join a weight loss program with his son in which the program also made the parents partake in regular exercise and a healthy diet change in order to set an example for the children.

In eight months, Ivan lost 65 pounds. Even though the program had a strict regimen of exercise, he believed it was cutting down on meat consumption that led him to lose that weight. “It’s a heck of a thing for a deli proprietor to say,” he said. But, he did not become a crusader for vegetarianism. He did realize that there were a large number of people who were vegetarian in the Columbia area, and that there weren’t a lot of places offering vegetarian options. So, he decided to tweak the menu to offer more vegetarian options to the public.

It started with the Vegetable Pita Sandwich which was a pita sandwich with zucchini, brussel sprouts, carrots, kidney beans, chickpeas, mushrooms, lupini beans, and cauliflower, all marinated in a Greek dressing for 24 hours. This quickly became a hit among not only vegetarians but anyone who came into Groucho’s Deli.

TL;DR: Groucho's Deli and Deli Brands of America, both renowned in the deli industry, share a dedication to quality and have a rich history. While Deli Brands of America has expanded from a small manufacturer to embrace modern technology, they have maintained traditional quality and flavor. Groucho's Deli stands out by using whole muscle proteins, ensuring their sandwiches are exceptional, and both brands resonate with individuals who value quality and enjoy the difference rooted in tradition and a love for everything between the bread.

Once upon a time, in the heart of South Carolina, a local sandwich chain called Groucho's Deli was born. Founded in 1941 by Harold "Groucho" Miller, we quickly became a beloved hotspot for locals craving delicious sandwiches. Groucho's Deli had a unique food ethos that set us apart from other restaurants. We have always believed that "quality is the most important ingredient in a sandwich." That's why we are committed to using only fresh, never frozen, all muscle proteins, excluding soy, soy byproducts, and fillers. Our dedication to freshness and flavor was evident in every bite. And with each passing year, we've grown in popularity, expanding our reach to North Carolina and Georgia, captivating the hearts and taste buds of sandwich lovers everywhere.

Congratulations on 20 Years, Issac! Isaac began his Groucho's career at the Forest Drive location in 2002 in the kitchen cutting meat. After working his way up through every position to Manager at Groucho's Forest Drive, Isaac joined the Franchise team to assist in opening new units for several years to include the one in West Columbia. Shortly after it's opening, Isaac took on the responsibility of General Manager and has been serving up amazing customer service to the West Columbia area ever since.

Groucho's® Deli is honored to announce its newest partnership with Sweet Street to offer a Toffee Blondie & a Gluten Free Brownie!

Groucho’s Deli is proud to announce its newest partnership with Tellus to offer upcycled compostable to-go boxes.

Groucho's Famous Sweet Tea. Over 40 Years of Tea Sourcing Excellence! In staying true to our values to serve the highest quality products while being mindful of the environment, Groucho's Deli is proud to partner with Marietta, GA based Harris Tea Company to produce the private label tea blend that goes into our award winning Groucho's Famous Sweet Tea! Harris Tea Company has been providing our brewed fresh daily tea blend loved by many for over a decade.

Groucho’s Deli is proud to announce its newest partnership with WinCup based in Stone Mountain, GA, to offer NEW Vio® biodegradable* foam cups along with Vio® Biodegradable* straws to our customers.

In case you're wondering how this Groucho's Famous menu item earned its name . . .In Columbia SC (1969) it was rare to find a Salad Entrée (for lunch or dinner). Most restaurants (Including Groucho’s Deli) had side salads on the menu, but few offered a salad as a full meal. Ivan Miller’s trademark menu items popularity (STP & Apollo Dipper with 45 Sauce) already made a huge innovative impact on the City of Columbia. The Bar was set high for any new sub/sandwich type menu items.

At 80, Columbia sandwich institution unites generations of owners and customers. Bruce Miller compares owning and working at Groucho’s Deli to the NBA and his favorite team, the Charlotte Hornets. No game, no day at work is ever the same.

Quality Since 1941. Groucho’s Original Deli is celebrating 80 years of business in Columbia, SC in 2021. This milestone is made possible not only by the multiple generations of family who have run it, but by the multiple generations of family who eat here.

In the mid-'90s, 2nd generation, Ivan S. Miller (I.S.M. ™) enhanced Groucho's® menu to include alternatives for those looking for healthy lifestyle options. Our healthy lifestyle sandwich options are served with pretzels and grain mustard on the side. This National Nutrition Month (March), we invite you to try one (or all) of our delicious Groucho's® Healthy Lifestyle favorites. 👇

During “Groucho” Miller’s time in Philadelphia in the early 1930s the Reuben Sandwich started popping up on Menus in the local delicatessens. Russian dressing was a popular and innovative condiment atop the signature corned beef, Swiss and kraut sandwich. When Groucho opened his delicatessen in Columbia (1940), the classic Reuben was new to Columbia and a top seller. For several years Groucho toyed with the Russian dressing recipe in an effort to capture the local southern flavor. In 1945 Miller’s Russian dressing variation became sweet and tangy. Groucho knew this new dressing paired better with pastrami, which is spicier than corned beef and muenster cheese. Groucho’s debuted the “Reuben Variation” served with 45 Sauce in 1945. Groucho Miller immediately sold his new 45 Sauce with all of his sandwiches. After Groucho Miller and his son Ivan debuted the trademark “Dipper” Subs in the 1960s, 45 Sauce became Columbia’s original iconic sandwich condiment.

Today, Groucho's Deli customers dip almost everything in their Famous Formula 45 Sauce.

Groucho’s Deli locations are proud to now feature Sustainable Agave products in stores and to-go orders.