New City Mall in Skopje

[Prolet]

This looks awesome

Skopje City Mall

Balfin is a key investor in the newest Shopping Mall in Macedonia. With 38.000m2 of planned retail space, located 3 km from the city center, Skopje City Mall is the best located retail space in the city. With excellent road and bus access, plus it’s over 1200 underground parking spaces will allow for easy access for all types of customers.

Project Type: Regional Shopping Mall

Location: Skopje, Macedonia

GBA: 90,000 sqm

Value: € 70M

Date of Completion: In Progress

Architect: Laguarda.Low Architects & DSC Design

Client: Balfin MK

CRE International Role: Construction Consulting & Cost Management

http://www.creinternational.com/projects/city-mall-skopje.php

[Daniel the Great]

Wow, so modern, it look fantastic. Where are they pulling all this money out of? lol

Is the Architect Macedonian?

[Makedonska_Kafana]

you have any idea how many new soros funded projects will pop up? once again, built mainly for outsiders

[Bill77]

I don't like what is happening, not one bit. IMHO, this is the evil plan.

Tease the mass with what the west is like (shopping malls, casinos etc).

Now many of them (Macedonian citizens) can't get a taste of it even though its right under there nose.

Plan is Let them drool over what can be, and then hammer home that they can have it once they are part of EU, where jobs will come flooding in followed by plenty of money and life will be Rosie.

Remember what happened to the USSR once McDonalds opened up in moscow

[Prolet]

Bill, McDonalds has been opened in Stari Kraj for almost 20 years, the only difference is that the ones in Moscow are written in Cyrillic :-)

All these investments are private its not like the government is building them, the investors buy the land and they build once they get the required permits.

[Ljubanec]

I don't like what is happening, not one bit. IMHO, this is the evil plan.

Tease the mass with what the west is like (shopping malls, casinos etc).

Now many of them (Macedonian citizens) can't get a taste of it even though its right under there nose.

Plan is Let them drool over what can be, and then hammer home that they can have it once they are part of EU, where jobs will come flooding in followed by plenty of money and life will be Rosie.

Remember what happened to the USSR once McDonalds opened up in moscow

Last time in Macedonia we went to the Ramstore mall in Skopje. We noticed how clean and convenient the mall was. Air conditioned, it was full of every day Macedonians. I went into the bookstore and noticed most of the titles were in Serbo-Croatian (Latin script). I find it hard to find books written in Macedonian which is a concern. The McDonalds did not have any local dishes on its menu (eg a "McBurek", Macedonian Boza, or Skopsko), but it was clean and the food is prepared in Macedonia. They did serve Heineken though along with Coke products.

Many Macedonians work in the stores in the Mall, what everybody's concern should be is the effect that McDonalds and consumerism will have on our culture. The fact that outside investment is not something that should exclusively be driving our economy is a big concern too.

[Makedonska_Kafana]

All these investments are private its not like the government is building them, the investors buy the land and they build once they get the required permits.

Prolet, please see if you can find out what long term projects were approved by Crvenkovski and if we know any of the owners names.

Thanks

[Risto the Great]

what everybody's concern should be is the effect that McDonalds and consumerism will have on our culture. The fact that outside investment is not something that should exclusively be driving our economy is a big concern too.

Consumerism is the new Delcev in Macedonia. It is unavoidable really. The issue here is the Government has responsibilities to its people and is presently more concerned with what it can get for itself in the money grab.

[Ljubanec]

Consumerism is the new Delcev in Macedonia. It is unavoidable really. The issue here is the Government has responsibilities to its people and is presently more concerned with what it can get for itself in the money grab.

That has been true for a long time. In the near future people who have not been to Macedonia in over 20 years will not recognize when they go back.

Our politicians need to protect the people in a number of ways but, either they don't or are not competent to keep up. Uncorrupt politicans are the exceptions not the rule.

We need a Macedonian Content Law- where at least 90% of all content on TV, radio, newspaper and other media should be in Macedonian. Movies and TV series should all be dubbed in Macedonian.

we will see I guess.

[julie]

That has been true for a long time. In the near future people who have not been to Macedonia in over 20 years will not recognize when they go back.

Our politicians need to protect the people in a number of ways but, either they don't or are not competent to keep up. Uncorrupt politicans are the excepde tions not the rule.

We need a Macedonian Content Law- where at least 90% of all content on TV, radio, newspaper and other media should be in Macedonian. Movies and TV series should all be dubbed in Macedonian.

we will see I guess.

Totally agree.in comparison to Australia where everything is in English aside from translated printed publications in minority languages to assist in government literature and handouts

[Prolet]

LOL @ McBurek

Do you think Burek is Macedonian? its a McDonalds franchise all foods are the same. The only difference is they serve alcohol in Macedonia where as in Australia they dont.

Its impossible to have a 90% content law on the media in Macedonia, because Macedonia is in Europe and it has countries surrounding us, those who live close to the border can watch the local channels on their tv screens of the other countries especially now when its all digital. I remember when i was in Monte Negro and Albania we watched Italian Channels on TV its that close yet they are on the other side of the Adriatic coast.

In Stari Kraj i dont know anybody who doesnt have cable TV or Satellite TV where they watch channels from all over the world.

[Ljubanec]

McBurek, McBannitsa,or McZelnik. If our people believed in our culture whole heartedly McDonald's in Skopje will also serve McGraf.

http://www.globalbydesign.com/blog/2003/10/15/would-you-like-fries-with-your-greek-mac/

I naturally wouldn't want that. Mcd's is shit and for that matter so are other fast food establishments. They have changed N.America for the worse. I would get pretty upset if I went to Macedonia and getting picked up by an uncle or cousin at the airport, he decided to pick up 4 coffees from the newly opened Tim Horten's drive thru in Skopje.

Anyway I am going off on a few tangents here, my point is: We have to be stewards of our language and culture.

[Prolet]

Ljubanec, Its actually an insult for a Macedonian in Stari kraj to eat McDonalds, only the kids go there and teenagers who eat otherwise money wise its simply not worth it. You can get a huge burger at other sendvichari, with fries,drink and Salad for half the price.

A Large Big Mac Meal in Stari Kraj is 300 denars maybe more.

Ljubanec, You do realize that you cant simply make up names for a franchise, everything in McDonalds around the world needs to be the same from USA to Australia to Saudi Arabia. I guess a McPiftija or a McMaznik would go down well in a country like Scotland LOL