About Doc’s

Doc’s was built on a simple belief: good food doesn’t need explaining, it just needs to be done right. That belief comes from Dr. J. Frank Martin—“Doc”—a man who lived fully and simply, valuing family, friends, Gamecock sports, fishing, golf, and a good meal at a fair price. His name isn’t just on the building; it’s the standard everything inside is held to.

Founded in 2006 inside the restored Dreher packing plant just off Shop Road, Doc’s Barbeque & Southern Buffet was created by Jimmy Stevenson, Kirckman Finlay III, and Trae McCarthy as a true Columbia gathering place. Convenient to Downtown Columbia, I-77, the State Fairgrounds, and Fort Jackson, it quickly became a staple for business lunches, students, soldiers, and families across the Midlands—drawn in by honest Southern food, a welcoming atmosphere, and the simple promise of doing things right.