New grocer brings Bosnian flavors to Urbandale

How it started: Mehinovic and her family fled Bosnia during the war in the 1990s and lived in Hungary before immigrating to the U.S. in 1996.

• She spent several years working in another grocery store in Des Moines before deciding to open her own.

Details: The 3,500-square-foot store features a deli, fresh produce and imported treats like Kinder, Milka and Haribo products.

• Specialty products include ćevapi — Bosnian beef and veal sausage links — and pitas filled with beef, potatoes or spinach and cheese.
• About 60% of the store's products come from southeast Europe, including Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia. The rest come from central and eastern Europe, like Germany, Austria and Poland.

The intrigue: Des Moines — and Iowa — is home to a large population of Bosnians and southeast Europeans who came as war refugees in the 1990s.

What they're saying: "She's a single mom who decided to take on business ownership," says Nihad Biscanin, Mehinovic's boyfriend, who helps with the business. "She chased her dream to be a business owner and provide the community with something different."

If you go: 9am–7pm Monday-Saturday; 9am–5pm Sunday; 2679 100th St., Urbandale