Immigrant Alem Boric sensed a demand for Sudzuka sausage, Vegeta spices, Bananko candy and chicken pate.

He quit his job in a battery factory in 1998 and opened a small store in a 600-square-foot storefront in the Bosnian enclave on Gravois Avenue. His business model was on the money.

Barely one year later, he expanded to a larger building. Now his company, Europa Market, is a major importer of Bosnian food specialties, serving local supermarket chains as well as small Bosnian-owned shops in the St. Louis area. He gets most of his meats from other Bosnian immigrants who developed processing plants in the United States.

His headquarters and warehouse is a former mop factory at 4164 Chippewa Street. Boric, 33, is one of the most successful of the many Bosnian immigrants who moved here and established their own businesses.

He continues to operate his store across from the Bevo Mill.

"I found a chance to do something bigger," said Boric. "We serve customers in 30 states. Business is good."