Get your Groupons starting next week

The much-anticipated mass couponing website began signing up Columbia-area businesses several months ago and has a little more than 100 retailers committed for its daily deals, spokeswoman Julie Mossler said.

The first deal – spend $15 and get $30 in Southern cusine and drinks at Mr. Friendly’s for dinner -- will be offered on its website and via e-mail for subscribers starting Monday. A side deal lets you spend $7 and get $15 for lunch at the popular Five Points restaurant.

The site already has nearly 8,000 subscribers in Columbia, Mossler said, and is adding about 400 a day. Signing up is free at www.groupon.com/columbia.

Groupon has partnered with the McClatchy Co., owner of The State, and eventually will offer extra deals to newspaper subscribers. The website also is looking at expanding to other parts of South Carolina, Mossler said.