Albanians abroad affected by global crisis

TIRANA, Jan5 – The following is what an American newspaper wrote about the negative consequences of the international financial crisis on an ethnic Albanian citizen living in the United States.
A nearly $70,000 rent dispute was behind the Christmas day-off and subsequent closure of Little Archie’s Restaurant and Coney in Green Oak Township.
The Palushaj family, who own the restaurant, claim they were lied to about an agreement to resolve back rent and forced to vacate on the holiday.
Little Archie’s was run by five family members, all of whom live together in Northville. Previously, a Little Archie’s operated for six years in South Lyon before closing in June 2007.
The restaurant building is located at 9855 Village Place Blvd. at the Green Oak Village Place Mall, having opened in November 2006.
Co-owner Valentin Palushaj said his family saw a rapid decline in business seven months ago. He added that his family, who originate from Albania, vacated the building because they were on the brink of eviction.
“It’s a total tragedy for our family. We put our heart and soul into that restaurant,” Valentin Palushaj said.
“I don’t even know where to begin looking for a job,” he added.
Palushaj said his family owned the restaurant equipment outright, and that sales records were produced months ago.
The family was paying reduced rent for months, and was shocked when mandated to pay nearly $70,000 in back rent.
Palushaj said he was promised for months that the building’s rent would be formally adjusted down, and feels he had no chance to say goodbye to loyal customers.
“We feel like we turned our back on them. They’re more like family members,” he said.
Back in their homeland, Albania, authorities say the global crisis has not had a severe effect on the economy.
That’s really hard to believe in a small country that is still not right on its feet in the market economy.
True, the country still gets a lot of remittances from immigrants. But remittances seem to have been reduced last year and most likely will be further decreased this year.