Skip to main content
Menu Close Menu

Historic Columbia

Donate
  • FAQs
Upcoming Events

Navigation

  • Tours
    • House Tours
      • Robert Mills House and Gardens
      • Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens
      • Mann-Simons Site
      • The Museum of the Reconstruction Era
      • Modjeska Monteith Simkins House
      • Hours and Pricing
    • Garden Tours
      • Garden Database
    • Offsite Tours
      • Walking Tours
    • African American History Tours
    • Online Tours
  • Education
    • Field Trips
      • House Tours
    • Traveling Trunk
    • Summer Camp
    • Adult Education
  • Preservation
    • Current Projects and Initiatives
      • Bull Street Campus 
      • Columbia's Green Book Sites
      • Veterans Administration Regional Office
      • Women’s Club of Columbia
    • Preservation Awards
    • Resources for the Public
      • For Property Owners
      • For Neighborhoods
      • Take Action!
    • LGBTQ Columbia
  • Support
    • Corporate Support
    • Donate
    • Membership
    • Volunteer
    • Partners and Donors
  • Rent a Venue
    • Gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion
    • Seibels House and Garden
    • Robert Mills Carriage House and Gardens
    • Gardens of the Woodrow Wilson Family Home
    • Weddings
    • Photoshoots
    • Recommended Vendors
    • Contact Us
  • About
    • Blog
    • Board Members
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Gift Shop at Robert Mills
      • Online Store
    • Local History
      • Columbia Jewish Heritage Initiative
    • Newsletter
    • Staff Directory

Donate

  1. Home
  2. Online Tours
  3. Columbia's Jewish Heritage Sites
  4. 611 Harden Street

611 Harden Street

611 Harden Street

Groucho's Delicatessen

Groucho's Delicatessen was founded in 1940 by Harold C. "Groucho" Miller (1899 - 1974). Miller was born in Connecticut to Issac and Rose Miller, who immigrated from Russia. Miller, his wife, Ethel Luberoff Miller (1903 - 1994), and three children, Donald, Ivan and Arlene, moved to Columbia around 1939. He then purchased Rivkin's Delicatessen, located at 1014 Lady Street, and named it "Miller's Delicatessen and Sandwich Shop." By the following year, the deli was known as "Groucho's," due to Miller's likeness to the famed comedian Groucho Marx. In 1942, Miller moved the deli to 1705 Main Street. In 1947, Miller and his nephew, George Stein, purchased the Rivkin family's other delicatessen at 618 Harden Street. Faye was a young bride who quickly became close with her mother-in-law.

In 1967, Groucho's moved across the street to 611 Harden Street. The following year, Ivan joined the business full time, and he and Faye worked there together for 28 years. Today, Ivan's wife, Fay, and son, Bruce Miller, runs the business, which is now a franchise with 32 locations in North and South Carolina.

  • Groucho Miller

    Groucho Miller, often called the Mayor of Five Points, takes a stroll in the 1950s. Image courtesy Bruce Miller

  • Groucho Miller and his son, Ivan Miller

    Groucho Miller and his son, Ivan Miller (1930 - 2001), on a stroll down the eastern side of the 1400 block of Main Street in 1943. Pictured in the background are signs for Jewish merchants Stein's Men's Shop and Friedman's Jewelers. Image courtesy of Bruce Miller

  • Groucho's ad

    In The State newspaper, Miller advertised his sandwich shop as being completely kosher, making it the first of its kind in Columbia. They remained at this location for twenty years. Image reprinted from The State March 1, 1947

Directions:

    Previous2701 Heyward Street

    Next3106 Devine Street

    Newsletter Signup

    newsletter signup

    Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for events, news, and updates from Historic Columbia!

    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Flickr
    Historic Columbia

    © 2023 Historic Columbia

    Administrative Offices
    1601 Richland Street
    Columbia, SC 29201

    Tours
    All historic house and garden tours start at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills.
    1616 Blanding Street
    Columbia, SC 29201

    Questions? Call (803) 252-7742.

    Website by Cyberwoven