"Strawberry" from Shiroka to the pedestrian zone/ The new spirit that brings tradition, taste and positive energy

2025-12-10 17:31:00, Qyteti im CNA

"Strawberry" from Shiroka to the pedestrian zone/ The new spirit that

When she decided to return to Albania, Lola Lumi's first idea was to open something simple, with a short, memorable name.

The beginning began in Shiroka, with seasonal fruits collected from the lands of local residents, creating smoothies, cocktails, and special drinks.

The strawberry, a fruit found mainly in the mountains and not very common to obtain, became the special symbol of this new concept.

After many years of experience in restaurants and bars abroad, she decided to bring this new gastronomic spirit to Shkodra, a combination of tradition and modern, "cool" style.

" When I decided to come back, I said I would open something that would first have a short name that would stick in my mind. We opened it in Shiroka first with seasonal fruits. We took people from their lands and created smoothies, cocktails and various drinks. We thought that strawberries are something special that is found in the mountains and it was not easy to find. So it seemed special to me. I came to Albania in February and decided just before summer to open it. I have been dealing with restaurants and bars abroad for many years, I thought why not in Albania too, to bring a new spirit, a little tradition but also a little cool. In Shiroka the experience was good, we had to deal with tourists from all over the world. Since it is a tourist place, we did breakfast and brunch. There were many tourists, mainly Germans, English but also from Saudi Arabia. But the English are more eager to celebrate, have fun ", said Lola Lumi, creator of "Stradheza".

Today, on the city's pedestrian street in festive December, the concept has expanded even further. It aims to create a place where children, young people and the elderly feel equally welcome.

On the menu, local products take center stage: boiled cheese from the Highlands, various antipasti, mulled wine and walnut cabbage – a taste without which, as she says, “there are no holidays”.

The new location near the holiday tree and Santa Claus has brought a completely different atmosphere, offering a warm corner where people find something different.

" I tried to mix and match to make something that focuses on children, youth and the elderly. We decided to bring the black cheese that comes from Malta, various antipasti with local products, mulled wine, lakro with nuts because for me there are no holidays without lakro. People liked it a lot, plus the place where we are is something new near the tree, near the pedestrian zone, the municipality has also placed a Santa Claus who come to take pictures and find something different. The beautiful thing is that we as staff also enjoy it and like it a lot. Hot chocolate with decorations, Santa Claus are especially preferred by children. Boiled cheese remains among the most sought after, people want to consume it ", said Lola.

But her vision doesn't stop there. She believes that she will soon create a place that will function all year round, close to the city, close to young people and their activities.

For him, the return of young people to Albania is essential, as is the preservation of tradition – but updated in a more pleasing and modern way.

" I believe that very soon we will have a place where we can be all year round where we can be close to the city and among young people for various activities. I am very much in favor of bringing as many young people back to Albania and not letting the tradition slip away but keeping it and making it more appealing with these modern combinations. I have created a clientele, in fact the clientele started in Shiroka, there are people who I had clients there and when they found out that we would also be in the pedestrian zone they came and found us. I am also obsessed with the decor, because it is known that clients also enjoy social networks for photos. For me, retaining clients is double happiness ", said Lola Lumi.

Of course, the first to support her are her family and close friends, her most loyal customers every step of the way. Positive energy, she says, is the team's strong point: they enjoy their work and they convey this feeling to every person who stops by for a drink or a hot meal.

"Normally, the first people who follow me are my family, wherever I am or in any business, they are always the most loyal customers along with my close friends. I want to share our energy everywhere, not only in service and quality, so we are very positive. We enjoy it ourselves and we share it with others, so I would suggest that you come and get this positive feeling too, Shkodra is always flourishing more and more, come and be part of the festivities ," declared the creator of "Strawberry".

"Shkodra is blossoming more and more every day. Come and be part of the festivities," is the message that Lola, together with the "Strawberry" team, has for everyone, to experience a special atmosphere, full of tradition, taste and smiles./CNA