On a Wednesday morning, loaves of pitalka bread are swiftly disappearing from the shelves of European Bakery and Deli. The family-owned business, which began in Kosovo, marked its 20th anniversary on 17th Avenue S.W. by unveiling an expanded storefront on May 20. The new space has already attracted increased foot traffic.
Aulona Duraj manages the front counter, taking orders and handling transactions. In the back, her father Shaqir crafts handmade bread and spins dough for their renowned burek, a thin pastry filled with savory ingredients. Meanwhile, her mother Luma bakes fresh cakes. The family treats every customer like a relative, Aulona notes.
Last year, the family decided to nearly double their space to boost production and create a new front-of-house area. Aulona collaborated with her sister Gona on the design. The seating area features framed photos of Luma and Shaqir working in Kosovo, along with childhood birthday pictures of the sisters. The flooring was designed to replicate the original pre-renovation look.
Despite construction challenges, the family feels the result mirrors their journey. Luma remarked, "I feel like it was a really beautiful way to tie everything together, and the fact that it came into the time when we were right around the 20-year anniversary, it worked out really, really beautifully." She recently reconnected with a customer for whom she had made a wedding cake years ago—his son is now engaged. "I thought he must be kidding," Luma said with a laugh. "It was the moment that I felt like, wow, am I that old?"
Starting Over with What They Learned
The Duraj family arrived in Calgary as refugees from Kosovo in 1999. Luma and Shaqir learned baking from their parents in the Has region. Their expertise allows them to assess dough readiness by sound or detect cake imperfections from 15 feet away. "We didn't go to school to learn or do courses on this stuff," Luma said. "Who else better to teach you than mom?"
Before opening on 17th Avenue, Shaqir sold burek from a small coffee shop in Westbrook Mall. Through sponsors and their support network, they discovered the Beltline and established their current location.
Risking It All
Shaqir recalls the conversation with his lawyer after putting their home up as collateral for the business loan. The gamble paid off, and the bakery has become a beloved community institution for both longtime Canadians and newcomers.
