Sumter Cut Rate Drug Store & Coffee

This is one of my most favorite lunches I would have as a kid. My mom would take me and I would get a grilled cheese. Today over 30 years later the grilled cheese is just like I remember it. The chicken salad is also a must but you have to go early as they often run out. This soda shop is a must go to if in downtown Sumter around lunch time.

Enjoyed breakfast with my husband this morning. Food was good, but the waitress was excellent! Elizabeth was very attentive and talked to us like we had been coming there for years! She was awesome!

OHHH MY GOODNESS TODD TOUCHBERRY INCREDIBLE HOST!! The Patty melt was so good—so good even though I was full…I WANTED ANOTHER!! Very friendly relaxing place…will be back here this Tuesday after Christmas for the popular chicken salad! A MUST EAT!!!!

1935 and still going strong awesome place great milkshakes as well

Really nice people at the pharmacy, also great burgers and shakes 🌞

Best traditional diner food around. Amazing historic location that feels like you've walked through time, but accented by fun modern items on the special menu that changes every week. A necessary stop when you're visiting Sumter. Try the chicken salad!

If you had never had their chicken salad. It is a must try. I only went to get a small container but the young lady offered a large side and I didn't hesitate because their salad goes so quick. Just drop in or dine in everyone is very nice and order their chicken salad.

My experience was very positive although the setup inside was a bit confusing at first and the staff was not overly friendly but friendly enough to get some good food ordered which is fine. I liked the small town diner feel although it didn't really have the decades-old feel to it that some may claim. Still, the fries and chocolate milkshakes were delicioso and it was a good break from the heat during the Annual Caffeine and Gasoline car show.

Friendly people and staff. One of best pharmacies in town.

A local favorite!! Love love love their lunch specials but everybody knows the chicken salad is legendary!! It is an old school soda fountain so you have to get a milk shake if it’s your first time or pancakes if you’re there for breakfast.

The pancakes and the grits were delicious; the cook was terrific! More than that, the owner was very friendly, informative and helpful. We were in Sumter for the solar eclipse, and we saw that they are big supporters of many local charities and events. We were very impressed with all that they do.

I can't understand anybody giving less than five stars. I was an EMT and ate here often,
fast service, great Southern food, good prices.
Unfortunately on hospice now but their pharmacy continues the great service to me.
I would say they are a blessing.

Caring, compassionate and extremely helpful pharmacy staff. Pharmacist Chad is fabulous!! Clean and well maintained store. Amazing restaurant.. so delicious. Customers really do come first here 😊

Not to many old fashioned grills around, but there’s one in Sumter. Good wholesome food. Plenty of fellowship and a place to relax too. Staff is always friendly.

I went here looking for medical equipment that I could not find elsewhere, and the staff there was very friendly. I was also pleased that I could find a wide variety of alternative medicine and information about holistic healing strategies. I wish I could have stopped and grabbed a bite to eat; the soda fountain and food counter looked great. I would recommend this drug store to anyone.

Best place to get that "old school diner" atmosphere (and food!) in Sumter! Great cheese burgers, and lunch specials are great values. 👍

At the Aug. 1 Sumter City Council meeting, Todd Touchberry, manager of Sumter Cut Rate Drugstore and Soda Fountain at 32 S. Main St., received the Downtown Service Award from Main Street South Carolina, a project of the Municipal Association of South Carolina.

Touchberry, a 1991 graduate of Sumter High School, has been managing the soda fountain portion of Cut Rate for eight-and-a-half years.

According to Beppie LeGrand, Main Street South Carolina manager, Touchberry received the prestigious annual award for his "longstanding support for the City of Sumter and his appreciation for his hometown and especially how its downtown is reflected in the proud decor of the Cut Rate Drugstore and Soda Fountain."

Perhaps more importantly, Touchberry has also organized and promoted car shows and other events that have helped bring people into the downtown area.

Organizing a car show might be a spinoff from Touchberry's days as a driver at Sumter Speedway, and those days began while he was still in high school.

"The first car show I did was a motorsports show," he said. "That's when I was racing at Sumter Speedway."

The event was well attended, he said.

In more recent years, Cut Rate has hosted up to six car shows a year, he said.

"This year tops out at six car shows, plus the drive-in movie and whatever fundraisers we're doing," Touchberry said.

Touchberry said his biggest show is "Caffeine and Gasoline" in October.

"We had entries from 23 counties and four states," he said. "The car shows get people downtown who have never been there before."

Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen said people like Touchberry are helping the downtown to be "vibrant and interesting."

He said the award for Touchberry is significant.

"Todd was chosen from among people nominated all over the state by their downtown groups, and he was chosen," he said.

The mayor credited Touchberry for creating a very popular space downtown.

"When our staff brings someone downtown and takes them to eat at Cut Rate, they remember it not just for the food, but also for the atmosphere of preserving Sumter history that Todd has created there. The more people down there, the more it's going to grow, and we really have it going on downtown, and it's because of people like Todd."

Touchberry said just being nominated was a huge honor.

"To win out of all the counties in South Carolina, I am proud and humbled," he said.

Todd said a lot of people helped him earn the award.

"Every employee we've had in the past and current, sponsors for the different shows and all the participants coming to see the car show," he said. "All the customers who've ever been through the door and my wife and family."

Touchberry's skill at organizing car shows has attracted attention outside of Sumter as well.

"I did a fundraiser for a church in Alcolu," he said. "Bishopville asked me to take over their car show in December."

The events at Cut Rate aren't only to attract customers, but they also are intended to raise money for good causes.

Touchberry has donated to the Shriners, the Sumter Military Museum and flood victims.

"Anyone who helped me raise money - if they had a car lost in the flood, we tried to help them, even if it was only a small amount," he said.

Food, atmosphere and service are great. Everyone is very friendly. Feels like I'm a kid again getting cherry cokes with my grandfather.

I am a small business owner in the neighborhood of this diner.....it not only is part of sumter's history but is a meeting place for friends, business luncheons and such...I have eaten at this diner all my life and I am 52 years of age. I pray it stays around right on....Beth Mims, co-owner of Southern Uniform and Screen Printing.

Great family atmosphere good food friendly staff if you need anything from food to health this is the place. And great patty melts