"Delivering Dining Diversity" is Total-Takeout Catering and Delivery owner Mark Meisinger's objective. His Broad Ripple-based company provides menu items from 18 local restaurants to satisfy customer palettes.

Mark moved with his family to Indy when he was 12 and is a graduate of North Central High School. "I've had the entrepreneurial spirit since I was in my teens and the most recent things I've done were delivery and sales. After the idea struck that I could be successful at doing this, I put a business plan in place and hit the pavement. I started going door to door at local restaurants and let them know what I was trying to do. I went to as many of the restaurants in the area as I could. Initially, I got nine restaurants involved, but have since expanded to 18. Nationwide, in some of the bigger cities, like Chicago, New York City and San Francisco, you can get many things delivered beyond food, but in Indianapolis, the industry as a whole is relatively new. It's beginning to take off as people are becoming aware that this service exists," he explained.

Total-Takeout's delivery area is set up by zip code, but will consider going beyond this area on a case-by-case basis. The boundaries are approximately 96th street to the north, Hague Road to the east, Township Line Road to the west and 38th street to the south. Some of their neighborhoods include Broad Ripple, Butler-Tarkington, Meridian Hills, Meridian-Kessler and Nora.

The restaurants that Meisinger and his staff deliver food from have discovered new customers they might not otherwise have. In turn, these customers have gained access to a diversity of local cuisine, literally, at their fingertips. Customers can view restaurants menus on-line before ordering without leaving their residence or workplace.

"Our motto is 'Delivering Dining Diversity.' Customers often request to have their favorite restaurants added. Offering many different cuisines and delivering it to your home or office is what this business is all about. Caplinger's Fresh Seafood Market and Restaurant, Marco's Restaurant & Lounge and Jordan's Fish, Chicken & Gyros are our latest additions. We are always looking to add new restaurants to our delivery menu because having many different options is important to us," Meisinger mentioned.

"On June 1 [2014], we celebrated our one year anniversary; however, it's been two years since the idea was conceived. At that time, I began buying delivery bags, setting up the computer software system and building car topper signs by hand. Working the blue color scheme, I chose everything from the table cloth design on the logo to the blue delivery bags that were important to me. There wasn't any local food delivery service that I knew of that had a blue color. I wanted to stand out and be noticed," he said.

Total-Takeout's hours are 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. seven days a week. For general questions, customers can call 709-7924, but are encouraged to access their website: www.total-takeout.com to place food orders.

"Just making it through the first year of business is pretty exciting," Meisinger noted. He expressed his gratitude to those who have helped make it possible. "I would like to personally thank all the restaurants who have helped me along the way, my regular customers and those who have liked us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Total-Takeoutcom/179323012233714). They have really embraced the business in its first year and for that, I am truly grateful. I would especially like to thank my family, friends and employees. They have all been a huge part of our initial success," he reflected.

Mark Meisinger and his delivery staff are connecting customers and restaurants from their door to your door with a variety of local cuisine.