Sihlbrugg, 22.12.2021

New restaurant soon to open in industrial area

Aleksandar Golaboski has made his dream come true with the restaurant “The Great”. The name says it all: the 31-year-old host has big plans for his restaurant.

It’s an inconspicuous and faceless industrial building not far from the McDonald's in Sihlbrugg - in an area that most people only know from driving past on the way to somewhere else. But if you enter 'The Great' restaurant at Sihlbruggstrasse 148, you will find yourself immersed in another world. The interplay of wood, light and green creates a special atmosphere. This is the realm of Aleksandar Golaboski, who will soon be opening his new restaurant here. If the corona situation doesn’t put a spanner in the works, it should open as early as mid-January.

Golaboski, 31 years old and raised in Baar, has made a dream come true with the restaurant. He actually works in the construction industry, in the field of building services, but has now founded another company of his own with “The Great GmbH”. "There are only a few real restaurants in Sihlbrugg," he says. He often likes to go out to eat with his customers and colleagues– so the desire to build something of his own has grown.

"We want to create a place where people like to spend time and enjoy themselves, and we are optimistic that our concept will also attract customers who don’t simply happen to pass by, but who actually chose to come to us."

Aleksandar Golaboski (right) together with team leader Stjepan Vidic in his new restaurant.
The interior creates a special atmosphere.
The restaurant is located in an inconspicuous industrial building.
View of the bar, in the picture you can see Stjepan Vidic (left) and Aleksandar Golaboski.

Photos: Stefan Kaiser, Sihlbrugg

The premises used to be home to the “Cream Club” with a shisha lounge. Because he had contacts with the previous tenant and the latter wanted to quit, the opportunity arose for Aleksandar Golaboski to take over the business.

Did the interior fittings himself
The motivated host will employ two chefs, three service employees and someone for the management. He’s currently negotiating with two top chefs, he says, but cannot yet give any names. He himself will mainly work in the background, as his area of expertise is the construction sector. Together with some of his colleagues, he carried out the interior fittings over the current year. "We worked hard, and are very satisfied with the result." The kitchen now has to be installed. The building application for the corresponding conversion was recently opened to the public in Baar, with total investments in the six-digit range.

The restaurant will be able to accommodate 100 guests and will be open daily. The operating concept, which is enclosed with the building application, provides for a standard offer of breakfast, salads, appetisers, main courses and desserts, as well as a varying monthly offer with specialties from different countries. So will thereby also be an Argentinean, Mexican or Italian month, says Aleksandar Golaboski.

He chose the name "The Great" as a reference to Alexander the Great. "We want to take our guests on a culinary journey. Just as Alexander the Great rode through countries and conquered them, we want to conquer the hearts of our customers." Food can also be ordered via the restaurant's website.

"We are not a nightclub"
"The Great" fits in with Golaboski's plans: he thinks big and has a lot of plans for his restaurant. He also wants to offer events, for example, with comedians. In addition, there will be musical entertainment in the evenings. Although the restaurant will be open until the early hours on weekends, Alexander Golaboski emphasizes that: "We are not a nightclub." He aims to appeals more to a slightly older audience, who like to linger and enjoy a drink.

Isn't the current pandemic a very risky time to start from scratch and create a new gastronomic offer – and then at a location without walk-in customers?
"We are facing major challenges, of course," says the 31-year-old. But he is convinced: "I decided a year ago to build something here. I'm going to go through with it now, and I'm not giving up."

Good luck from the editors!