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Natasha’s, a popular business for the Slavic community in Columbia, recently got a new owner and a new look.
The store, originally opened in 2003 as a deli and bistro, is a vendor of Eastern European foods.
Polina Petrenko bought the store at 705 Vandiver Drive from the original owner, Natasha Wekenborg, and reopened it April 15.
Petrenko chose to keep the Natasha’s name for several reasons.
“Most of the Slavic international students hear about Natasha’s within a few days of coming to town,” said James Spies, co-owner and Petrenko’s husband. “Also, my mother-in-law’s and niece’s names are Natasha.”
Spies said that Natasha’s still offers students and the whole Slavic community a taste of home. But he said their products aren’t limited to one group of people.
“Some of our customers are just interested in different tastes or have had contact with these types of food,” Spies said. “The majority of customers are Russian, but we have Bosnians, Croatians and others.”
Formerly a business technology analyst for MU, Spies said that he appreciates the freedom and diversity that managing Natasha’s gives him.
“My interactions aren’t regulated by the bureaucracy of the university any more,” Spies said. “Here I can do whatever I want; things happen quickly, I like that.”
According to Spies, Natasha’s serves not only as a store, but also as a type of community center.
“People drop things off for other Russians, and we have a message board for people to post on,” he said.
Spies said he enjoys the sense of community that Natasha’s offers the international population.
“Here, half of the customers know the other half,” he said.
Natasha’s offers many foods from Eastern Europe. One of the more unique items it carries is Zhigulyovskoye beer, which Spies said was “the Soviet state beer.”
Spies is proud of the selections the store offers.
“You can get things here that you can’t get anywhere else,” he said.
Some specialty meats and other rare liquors are among the items.
“It’s a whole new world to explore,” Spies said.
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