January 21, 2026
Sumter County Native Michelle Williams Brings Her Dream Deli to Sumterville
By Gina Horan
Sumter County Native Michelle Williams Brings Her Dream Deli to Sumterville
The Grove Roadside Deli in Sumterville is a welcome stop for anyone traveling south on Highway 301, offering fresh, made-to-order soups and salads for travelers and locals.
Opened in July of 2024 and owned by sixth-generation Sumter County resident Michelle Williams, the deli reflects both her roots and her longtime dream of running a small, community-centered food business.
“I didn’t know how it was going to go,” Michelle says. “But by mid-July, we were packed. I was handing out free water, and people were so kind and patient. I’m truly blessed.”
The menu focuses on classic deli grub prepared daily, including custom-built hot and cold sandwiches, wraps, and paninis. Customers will also find soups, salads, chips, sides, desserts, and rotating daily specials.
Michelle grew up in a family business environment. Her parents, Maxie and Jane Williams, owned Ace Hardware in Bushnell, and that entrepreneurial spirit stuck with her. When her youngest child left for college, Michelle found herself at a crossroads.
“My last baby went off to college and I was an empty nester and a single mom,” she says. “I decided I was finally going to do this. I called my best friend, and she told me to go for it. I did, and I’ve been happy and successful thanks to the love and support of my family and this amazing community.”
Michelle’s love of cooking is at the heart of the deli. She envisioned a small café rather than a full-scale restaurant.
“I didn’t want a place with fryers,” she says. “Just a panini press, a toaster and a dream.”
The chicken salad is the top seller, with dozens of quarts made fresh each week. Slightly sweet and scattered with plump cranberries and pecans, it has quickly earned a loyal following. They proudly serve Board’s Head products and honey made by Bee Sweet Apiaries.
Desserts are purchased from local purveyors and some are made in-house. “our desserts are popular and range from orange “Grove” cake to Reece’s peanut butter pie and cookies, brownies and banana pudding.”
The business is truly a family affair. Her son, Zane, designed the popular trucker hats, while her daughters Hayden and youngest Aubrey Kate, who is currently in college, help out as they can.
“I could never have done this without my kids,” she says. “This has been my dream for so long and it finally came true.”
732 Hwy. 301, Sumterville
Hours: Mon–Fri, 10:30am–3:30pm
Photos by Gina Horan
Gina moved to Central Florida in August 2021 from the San Francisco Bay Area. She has a degree in linguistics and worked as a fashion editor, photo stylist lifestyle columnist and food writer for the Knight Ridder Newspaper Group. She also covered and photographed music festivals, fashion shows and sports throughout Northern California. In 2000, she joined KSAN radio as a morning show co-host and produced the news and sports content there for four years. She later covered travel, events and the restaurant scene for KRON-Bay TV. A veteran bartender, Gina has worked in hospitality on and off since high school. She has been with Akers Media since 2022 and hosts the Healthy Living Central Florida podcast. Her passions include travel, road trips, baseball, history books and podcasts, tasting menus and arriving in a new city without a map or guidebook.
