CHECKING IN WITH...Globe European Delicatessen:

With Oktoberfest celebrations already beginning in September, we thought it was time to check in with Michele Schultz, who runs a local specialty shop that offers everything from bratwurst to German shampoo with her husband, Randy.

Globe European Delicatessen, 1928 Harbor Blvd. in Costa Mesa, has been serving clients seeking long-missed treats from their homelands for 43 years. Herr and Frau Schultz have run it for the past four.

Their jewel box of a shop is filled with European crackers, jams and spreads, meats, cheeses, magazines, breads and toiletries.

What are your backgrounds?

I was born in Germany, so I grew up with all these foods. My husband is second-generation. We were looking for a business for a long time; we were considering things like smoothie shops when we came to see this sandwich shop. It was an awesome opportunity.

Has business been good, as we’re heading into Oktoberfest season?

It has, and now with the economy being how it is, we’re so lucky that we can help people have their own party with authentic products, for half the price of going out for Oktoberfest.

What are some of your most popular products?

They come in for all of the sausages, and our homemade salads and sauerkraut. People who don’t even like sauerkraut love ours. Our meats are all supplied from three local German butchers, so we’re able to get the best from everybody.

We also have traditional hot German meals like kassler and rouladen, which are a bit more expensive than a sandwich but are very good quality. We have more than 50 German beers, so a lot of young people come in for those. We also have products from more than 16 countries, including Switzerland, Holland, Croatia, Turkey and Romania.

How do people find out about your shop?

Mostly it’s just word-of-mouth. People tell their friends and family about the good quality, or a certain product.

We also have people who say, “I’ve lived here 23 years, and I just saw your sign.” I’m really surprised that people will move away and come back when they’re in town. My farthest customer comes from Barstow. A lot of people from San Clemente, Dana Point and that area ask if we can open a second shop down there.

Do you offer catering or special event services?

We do event catering, and also offer specialty party platters with all the meats people want. If they don’t know what they want, we can help them put something together.

Right now I have schools and businesses ordering for their Oktoberfest luncheons.

What else makes your business stand out?

We know all of our customers; it feels like a community.

People get homesick, especially near the holidays, and can come here for all their favorite things. Starting the end of next month, we’ll get in all of the special European chocolates, gingerbread and cakes.

The holidays are crazy, then we usually take off the first week of January to recover!

For more information, call (949) 642-3784 or visit europeanfoods.com.

CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (949) 494-5480 or at [email protected].