Guy's Variety Discount Store in Columbia — Soul Food and Groceries in One Stop

What Guy's Variety Discount Store offers

Guy's Variety Discount Store is a long-standing fixture in Columbia's soul food scene, located on the city's east side. The store combines a full-service grocery with a prepared-food counter, so you can buy ingredients to cook at home or grab a plate ready to eat. The prepared food rotates daily — fried chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, cornbread, and other traditional dishes — and the grocery section stocks both everyday staples and harder-to-find items that matter to soul food cooking.

The store operates as a neighborhood market rather than a chain, which means the inventory and daily specials reflect what the community around it actually buys and eats. Prices run lower than supermarket chains, which is why locals call it a discount store. The prepared-food counter moves quickly during lunch and dinner hours, so timing matters if you want your pick of what's hot.

Key Takeaways

• Guy's Variety serves both as a grocery store and a soul food restaurant counter, so you can shop for ingredients or order a prepared meal in the same visit.
• The prepared-food menu changes daily based on what the kitchen makes that morning, so what's available depends on when you arrive.
• The store is located on Columbia's east side and draws a steady neighborhood crowd, especially during lunch and dinner service.
• Prices are lower than chain supermarkets, and the store stocks specialty ingredients used in traditional soul food cooking.

The prepared-food counter and daily menu

The food counter at Guy's Variety operates on a daily-rotation system rather than a fixed menu. The kitchen prepares soul food standards — fried chicken, baked chicken, pork chops, collard greens, black-eyed peas, okra, mac and cheese, cornbread, and sweet potato — but what's available on any given day depends on what was cooked that morning. Arriving early in the lunch hour or around 5 p.m. gives you the widest selection; later in the evening, popular items sell out.

Portions are generous and priced by the container or plate. You can order a single side, a full plate with meat and two or three sides, or just cornbread and greens if that's what you want. The staff behind the counter will serve you directly, so you can ask what came out of the kitchen that day and what's running low.

The grocery section and specialty ingredients

Beyond the prepared food, Guy's Variety stocks a full range of groceries — fresh produce, canned goods, frozen items, dairy, and meat. The store carries both mainstream brands and specialty products that matter for soul food cooking: collard greens and mustard greens, okra (fresh and frozen), black-eyed peas, crowder peas, and other legumes that might be harder to find in a standard supermarket. The produce section includes items like sweet potatoes, turnips, and other vegetables central to the cuisine.

The meat counter sells cuts suited to traditional cooking — ham hocks, neck bones, pig feet, and chicken parts — alongside standard cuts. Because the store serves a neighborhood that cooks soul food regularly, the inventory reflects those needs rather than trying to be everything to everyone.

Location and neighborhood context

Guy's Variety Discount Store sits on Columbia's east side, in a neighborhood with deep roots in the city's African American community and culture. The store itself has been part of that neighborhood for decades, which is why it remains a gathering point and a reliable source for both groceries and a meal. The area around it includes other long-standing businesses, churches, and residential blocks that give it a distinct character from the chain-store corridors elsewhere in the city.

Parking is available on-site or nearby, and the store is accessible by car. Public transit options vary depending on your starting point; checking the COMET bus system's route map will show you whether a direct route runs from where you are.

Pricing and what to expect

Guy's Variety operates as a discount grocer, which means prices on packaged goods and produce run below what you'll pay at chain supermarkets. The prepared food is similarly priced lower than sit-down restaurants or chain fast-casual spots. A full plate with meat and sides typically costs less than $15, and sides alone run a few dollars. Because it's a neighborhood store rather than a corporate operation, prices can shift based on what's in stock and what the owner decides to feature that week.

The store accepts cash and card payments. Hours vary, so calling ahead or checking before you visit ensures you don't arrive to find it closed, especially if you're coming from across town.

Why locals choose Guy's Variety

People in the neighborhood and beyond return to Guy's Variety for three reasons: the food tastes like home cooking because it is home cooking, the prices don't strain a tight budget, and the store stocks the exact ingredients you need without making you hunt through a supermarket. For someone cooking soul food at home, it's faster and cheaper than buying from a chain. For someone without time to cook, the prepared-food counter solves the problem in minutes.

The store also represents continuity in a neighborhood where many long-standing businesses have closed. That matters to people who've lived in the area for years and to visitors who want to eat and shop where the community actually does, not in a generic chain location.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time should I go if I want the best selection of prepared food?

Lunch hours (around 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and early dinner (around 5 to 6 p.m.) are when the kitchen has the most items hot and ready. If you arrive after 7 or 8 p.m., popular items like fried chicken or collard greens may be sold out. Calling ahead to ask what's available that day helps you plan your visit.

Can I order prepared food in advance?

Some neighborhood stores take phone orders for prepared food, but policies vary. Calling Guy's Variety directly to ask whether you can reserve a plate or order ahead for a specific time is the best way to find out what they offer.

Does the store sell ingredients I can't find at a regular supermarket?

Yes. Guy's Variety carries specialty items like ham hocks, neck bones, fresh collard and mustard greens, okra, and various dried peas and beans that chain supermarkets often don't stock or stock in limited quantities. If you're looking for a specific ingredient, calling ahead ensures they have it in stock.

Is there parking at Guy's Variety?

Yes, the store has on-site parking. Street parking is also available in the neighborhood if the lot is full, which is rare except during peak lunch hours.

What payment methods does the store accept?

Guy's Variety accepts both cash and card payments. If you're unsure about a specific payment method, calling ahead is the quickest way to confirm.