By Mark Ambrogi
Tatiana Anguelova and Mariana Raibulet often commiserated about having to travel to Chicago to get authentic European foods at a store.
So for 10 years they had talked about starting their own business.
In September, the two friends made it a reality, opening the Blue Danube European Deli, 11850 Allisonville Rd., in Fishers. Both women said they had no doubt they would do it. Anguelova said they just had to find the right time.
Anguelova, 47, came to Indianapolis from Bulgaria 16 years ago while Raibulet, 45, came from Romania at the same time. They met while taking adult classes to learn English at North Central High School. Both women said their families won the green card lottery to come to the United States.
They became friends but lost contact for a few years before meeting again at a reunion held by their former English instructors. At that time, they found they were both living in Brownsburg close to each other. Their sons are the same age and soon became close friends.
For the past five years, the two women worked together as instructional assistants for students with special needs at Brownsburg East Middle School. Anguelova was an elementary school teacher in Bulgaria.
“Last year when my son finished college, I said ‘let’s make this come true,’” Anguelova said of the business. “That was a year ago.”
Anguelova said she lived in the Nora area for four years and loved it so she was familiar with the north side of Indianapolis.
“We knew Fishers is growing very fast,” Anguelova said. “Plus my son (Miroslav) is living five minutes away (from the store). He’s a pharmacist.”
Raibulet’s son Rares is in dental school and she has a daughter Andra who is a freshman at Brownsburg High School. Andra often works on Saturdays at the store.
Anguelova said the store (www.bluedaubedeli.com) has types of salami, polish sausage and some other meats and cheeses that can’t be found elsewhere. Blue Danube also have a build-your-own-sandwich station. Anguelova said the store makes some of its own pastries, such as sweet cheese pies.
“We are making our own bread from scratch,” Anguelova said
In addition, the store carries beer and wine from Europe. There are also chocolates from Europe.
“We have one of the best coffees (LavAzza) in Europe right now which I don’t think you can find very easily here,” Anguelova said.
The Blue Danube is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and closed on Sunday.
