In a scene marked by the presence of police and a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, the Meridian market, a well-known chain from Priština, opened its doors today in North Mitrovica. The new store occupies the premises of the former Serb-owned Lazić butcher shop and market.
The grand opening was scheduled for 10 AM, amid speculation that a minister from the Kosovo government might attend. This drew a considerable crowd of journalists from both Serbian and Albanian media, as well as local Albanian residents. However, the anticipated appearance of a high-ranking government official did not materialize.
The market was officially opened by Agon Gashi, CEO of Meridian, and Arian Zeka, Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo.
Both addressed the media in Albanian and answered questions from Serbian-speaking reporters in English.
Gashi emphasized that the market’s employees are bilingual, speaking both Serbian and Albanian, which he believes will facilitate smooth interactions with Serbian customers. He also noted that one of the staff members belongs to the Serbian community, while others are Bosniaks and Albanians.
„Six out of seven of our employees speak both languages, so there should be no issue for Serbs shopping in our store. We offer a wide range of products, both local and imported,“ Gashi stated, adding that all product labels in the market are available in both Serbian and Albanian.
Arian Zeka, on the other hand, stressed the importance of not dividing businesses along ethnic lines. „We shouldn’t categorize stores as Albanian or Serbian. If you check the business registry, none of these businesses are listed as Albanian or Serbian—they are all Kosovar businesses. As long as they serve every citizen in Kosovo, that is the best message for everyone,“ Zeka said.
While this is the first Meridian market in North Mitrovica, it is the 45th store in the chain, according to Gashi. This market opening, though not the first business venture by an Albanian in North Mitrovica, is notable for the heightened police presence during the event.
The Kosovo Privatization Agency announced a tender in early April to sell properties under its control across Kosovo. Among the 27 properties listed were four in North Mitrovica, including the former Lazić market, which had reportedly been leasing the space from the agency.
The submission and opening of bids for these properties took place on April 24 at the Grand Hotel in Pristina, as part of a liquidation process. One of the properties for sale was just ten meters away from the new Meridian market. Although initially listed as a single unit, the property previously housed three businesses—a pharmacy, an exchange office, and a boutique.
Currently, this property is being renovated, along with several others on the Mitrovica promenade, which were either leased or sold through the privatization tender. Among the new businesses expected to open in these spaces is a pastry shop, „Missini,“ owned by an Albanian entrepreneur who operates a chain of pastry shops across Kosovo.
This summer, the well-known café „Dolce Vita,“ located near the main bridge on the Ibar River, got a new owner—an Albanian Ekrem Peci—and a new name, „C’est la vie,“ following a public auction held by the Agency.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
