Happy Albanian Independence Day!

'Albanian Jesus' as this Mural dedicated to local resident, Anton D Nikci, on Arthur Avenue.
‘Albanian Jesus’ as this Mural dedicated to local resident, Anton D Nikci, on Arthur Avenue.

This past Friday, November 28th, the Albanian community celebrated their country’s 102nd anniversary of independence from what was left of the Ottoman Empire.  In recent decades, scores of immigrant Albanian families have settled in the New York region with over two-thirds of the population having settled in The Bronx.

And their impact in visibility in our communities is quite apparent.

From pizza shops, to restaurants in Little Italy in our borough to real estate holdings, The Bronx Albanian population even produced Mark Gjonaj, New York State’s first assemblyman of Albanian descent.

Congratulations to the Bronx Albanian community on their independence day and may they continue their success in achieving the American Dream!

Ed García Conde

Ed García Conde is a life-long Bronxite who spends his time documenting the people, places, and things that make the borough a special place in the hopes of dispelling the negative stereotypes associated with The Bronx. His writings are often cited by mainstream media and is often consulted for his expertise on the borough's rich history.