New Mall Divides Opinion in Sarajevo

Mayor Komsic slipped and fell after the official opening of the new Sarajevo City Center on March 20.

Biljana Jandric, spokesperson of Sarajevo Clinic Center, told Balkan Insight he was received and treated for a fracture. “He will be kept over night for monitoring,” she said.

The Sarajevo City Center was opened on Thursday by the High Representative to Bosnia, Valentin Inzko, the Saudi ambassador, Eid Al-Thaqafi, and the investor Sulaiman Al-Shiddi.

Al-Shiddi said that it was a gift to the people of Sarajevo, and that he hoped the citizens would enjoy it, adding that he would continue investing in Bosnia.

While hundreds of people rushed to see the new centre out of curiosity, or for the new clothing brands, some wondered whether Sarajevo needs another shopping centre.

One man Balkan Insight that while the new mall looked fine enough, if he thought about it as a foreign investment, he would rather have seen something else.

“We seem to have shopping centres at every step,” he said. “This is all right but this city does not have enough people for all of this.”

Some shoppers were more enthusiastic. One young mother of two said she was looking forward to seeing what was on offer for kids, noting that the mall has playrooms and other attractions for families.

“At least it is something new,” she said. “Then again, to be realistic, there are three shopping centres in this area. But all of them are full."

Alta Shopping Center is just across the street from the new mall while the BBI shopping center is situated a few hundred meters away towards the city centre.

  The entrance to the Sarajevo City Center while the construction works on the building were still on
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