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‘The Best’ European Deli celebrates its first birthday under new ownership this June, in Palm Coast.

Milla Urunson, owner of European Deli “The Best,” has been everywhere.

“Oh, wow,” she says, standing in the back of her store in City Marketplace, trying to remember every place she’s ever lived. Tallying countries and cities on her fingers, she rattled off place after place: Moscow, Budapest, Tel Aviv, Italy….

She even used to own a deli in Prague.

“Especially here in Palm Coast, there are many immigrants from many countries,” she says. “So it’s good to have this kind of store, to remind people (about) the tastes of Europe.”

Featured in her store, which she bought last year from its original owner, are meats, fish, candies and groceries from all over Europe — everything imported.

“I like to carry things for people to discover,” she says, showing off chocolates from France and Latvia, cookies from Poland and an entire case of different-nationality bologna. “You cannot find any of this in Walmart.”

She strolls down aisles and points into glass coolers. Exotic mushrooms. Smoked fish. Foreign herbs. “I can talk about all of this for hours,” she says, grinning.

In 2009, when Urunson’s husband died, she knew she had to do something to support herself. So she opened an import-specialty store. And she loves her work, she says, because she loves introducing people to new foods.

“If you want to find something unique, something different, here you are. It’s right here,” she said. “I’m always glad to see new people, new customers. To make a customer happy — I’m happy after that.”

And it’s an arrangement that works. A customer once her a clown doll by hand as thanks for offering what she offers in her store, she said, proudly showing off the item, which is displayed behind the front counter for all to see.

For the future, Urunson plans to open a café next door to the deli, as well, to give this “quiet” city a place with music and food in the evenings. She has also considered expanding her space, in order to fit more variety onto the shelves.

But, as far as inventory is concerned, there’s no one thing that “The Best” deli specializes in. Looking around her store, Urunson takes it all in, every jar and bag and bottle. She clasps her hands together.

She shrugs. “It’s all so special,” she says.

For more about “The Best” European Deli, call 447-1040.

— mike@palmcoastobserver.com

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