Above: A sign in Groucho’s in Five Points adver tiser s Groucho’s specials. Bruce Miller (r) holds a caricature statue of his grandfather Groucho Miller. When Harold “Groucho” Miller hit Columbia back in 1941, all he had to start a business was a handful of original recipes he devised while growing up in a Philadelphia orphanage.

Now, 70 years later, the renowned restaurant that came from that handful of recipes has sprouted 25 locations in three states. Harold’s grandson, Bruce Miller is at the helm of the family business. On the company’s 70th anniversary August 24, they celebrated by opening a new restaurant in Greenville.

“So many Greenville residents have asked for a downtown Groucho’s Deli, and we are happy to oblige on this milestone occasion,” Miller said in a press release. “ We are proud to uphold Groucho’s legendary quality and fast, consistent service for the past 70 years.

In the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, Groucho’s Deli established its reputation by serving its high quality meats and cheeses as well as its famous sandwich dressings such as the popular Formula 45 Sauce that was perfected in 1945, Miller said. The eatery is also known for Harold’s original potato salad and cole slaw.

In its beginning, seating was very limited. Grou- cho’s sold imported teas, coffees, and exotic teas and was more of a market than a restaurant. In the 1960s, the business moved into selling dipper type subs such as the Apollo, a mixture of ham, turkey, and cheese that comes with a side of the now famous Formula 45 sauce. The sandwich was named because of its likeness to a space capsule and original advertising stated that it could “land” in a tub of the sauce.

Today, the menu has expanded and includes numerous sandwiches on various breads as well as salads and low calorie dishes.

Although the idea of introducing the deli into new areas was always prevalent, the family-oriented company wanted to ensure the products, recipes, and overall customer experiences would be consistent with the grandfather’s original concepts. While Groucho’s receives numerous applications for franchises, they execute roughly only three a year.

In January this year, Groucho’s was listed in Entrepreneur Magazine’s top 500 Franchise list. From a young boy’s dreams as he was growing up in an orphanage, Groucho’s came in at number 317 on the list.

“Groucho’s feels that by slow controlled growth, we can offer excellent launch and ongoing support which will increase the likelihood of success,” Miller said.