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Grooms' political views developed in part from his experience starting a chain of convenience stores and restaurants, he said during the meeting at Aunt Chiladas Easy Street Cafe.
When he began in business, Grooms gave his name, address and $50 to the government to get a building permit, then began digging the foundation for his first store the same day, he said.
Since then, Grooms said, he has gained an unwanted business partner: government. The father of three said he is concerned the state now interferes too much with individual liberty and free enterprise.
"My kids will never be able to start a business on a shoestring like I did," he said.
To change that, Grooms said he would pick pro-business leaders for top posts in state government and simplify permitting at agencies such as the Department of Health and Environmental Control, which he said operates with a "culture of delay."
Grooms also explained his role in recruiting Boeing to South Carolina and pledged to bring more companies to the state.
"I will sell the state like no other governor has ever sold the state," Grooms said.
Grooms supports building more nuclear, coal- or gas-fired power plants to ensure the state has enough energy in the future.
Grooms said he has worked to restructure several segments of South Carolina's government, including its ports and Department of Transportation.
"I'm the only candidate that passed reform legislation," he said.
Other Republican gubernatorial candidates include U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, state Rep. Nikki Haley and S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster.
Noting double-digit unemployment in his native Berkeley County, Grooms said people too often assume such problems will fix themselves without action.
"I'm more concerned about our future than ever before," Grooms said. "It's not going to be fine if we don't change the way we're doing things."
