Groucho’s will reopen this Columbia-area location that’s been closed for more than a year

Don’t fret, Forest Acres. You’ll get your Formula 45 sauce fix again soon.

Groucho’s Deli, the long-running Columbia-area favorite that has spread to other parts of the region through the years, will reopen its location at 4717 Forest Drive in Forest Acres, according to a release from the company. That location has been closed since summer 2023. The company is aiming to reopen the location in January.

The return to Forest Acres will bring a “state of the art Groucho’s Deli prototype,” the release noted, which will include “the latest advancements in furniture, surfaces and equipment that enhance the customer experience.

Groucho’s CEO Bruce Miller said he’s been hearing from customers who wanted the deli to reopen in Forest Acres.

“We have deep roots in the Forest Acres community and appreciate the tremendous number of loyal customers asking Groucho’s to return to the area,” Miller said in a statement. “Re-opening with this new, corporate-owned prototype will allow us to gain hands-on insights from customers about their needs as we strive to create the highest quality customer experience possible.”

Miller is the grandson of the late deli founder Harold “Groucho” Miller, who opened the first Groucho’s in 1941. The company has been a mainstay in the Columbia area, with its main location in Five Points and other outposts across the region. In all, there are nearly three dozen Groucho’s locations across South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.

Groucho’s is perhaps best-known for its Dipper sandwiches, including the iconic STP Dipper that has a warm sub roll filled with turkey, roast beef, bacon bits and melted Swiss cheese, with a cup of the signature, tangy Formula 45 sauce on the side.

The Forest Drive corridor where Groucho’s will once again be located is in the midst of a bustling commercial area, with grocery stores, ice cream shops, boutiques, restaurants, bars and more lining the roadway. About 28,000 cars per day travel down that thoroughfare, per state transportation statistics.