Ekrem Bardha (born 13 May 1933) is an Albanian American businessman, co-founder of the National Albanian American Council (NAAC), and former owner of Illyria Newspaper.[1] He is currently serving as Albania's Honorary Consul in Michigan[2] and is regarded as one of the most successful Albanians in America.[3]
Ekrem Bardha | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kolonje, Albania |
| Title | Businessman |
Early life
editBardha was born in the southern village of Radanj in Kolonjë District, Albania. Having escaped from the strict Albanian communist regime in 1953, after one of his brothers was jailed for political reasons, he settled in the Detroit area and went into the restaurant business. He eventually became the owner of 18 McDonald's fast-food franchises, which grossed over $25 million a year.[4]
He is the author of 2 books: Far Yet Near Albania, and The Albanian-American Diaspora and the Independence of Kosova, 2023.
References
edit- ^ "Illyria – The true voice of the Albanians in America". Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
Seven years later, Ekrem Bardha, another activist and businessman, became the owner of the newspaper.
- ^ "Consular and Other Offices: The Embassy of the Republic of Albania". embassy.org. Stapleton-Gray & Associates, Inc. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
- ^ "Ekrem Bardha biznesmen në Amerikë" (in Albanian). BBC. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
- ^ "Golden Arches to Rise in Tiranë". 29 September 1995. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
Bardha, the owner of McDonald's restaurants in the Detroit area, wants to see the Golden Arches tower over Tiranë as well.
5. https://exit.al/en/2022/04/01/to-this-british-albanian-success-story-hats-off-to-you-all/