Business premises in Stara Vlaška with the fruits from Slavonia vineyards and Istria olive groves

A long-term vision of the family business with the desire to open a unique example of a shop and a tasting room in the capital that will offer Zagreb the best of Slavonia and Istria in the form of authentic and award-winning premium wines from Ilok vineyards and the most awarded olive oil Oio Vivo from Istrian olive groves, brought Vukovar winemaker Damir Bogdanović and his business associates to the state business premise at Vlaška 33, Zagreb.

Državne nekretnine offered a ten-year lease of this business premise in the first city zone, in the part of Stara Vlaška, in the tender 3/21 of July 2021 with an initial rent of 4,920 HRK or 650 EUR from then. At the opening of tenders in September 2021, 10 tenderers competed for it, of which the highest valid tender was 10,100 HRK, i.e. 1,340 EUR, and the rent per square meter was 21 EUR. Mr. Bogdanović with his craft business did not make the highest offer, but by accepting the amount offered by the best tenderer, he was entitled to the right of priority when concluding a commercial lease agreement, which in the tender arises from the Act on Croatian Homeland War Veterans and their Family Members.

From Mr. Bogdanović we learned that he had already participated in the tender of Državne nekretnine, that is, that he entered into the lease of the state premise on the second attempt: “Now that I look at it, I am glad that it was not successful the first time and that I had the patience for this premise to be included in the tender because it is situated in a better location, and it also has a terrace, which is of crucial importance for caterers.” Like most craftspeople, his goal is to stay in the newly refurbished premise and achieve security of operations, which would allow him as a lessee to create a new tradition and preserve it for future generations.

The opening of the premise according to the desired vision was preceded by a large investment, especially because it was necessary to meet the prescribed conditions for two activities, both for trade and catering, which they successfully achieved and obtained a decision on the minimum technical conditions beyond reproach. The lessee completely refurbished the premise, and the works included the adaptation of electrical installations as well as the installation of water and drainage, partitioning and renovation of sanitary facilities, complete plastering and strengthening of old walls, renovation of shop windows and front doors, and installation of underfloor heating and air conditioning.

After that, the new lessee was able to proceed with the final arrangement of the premise in a way that, according to the simple and modern design of the architect Vedran Oštarić, the atmosphere of an original Istrian canteen and a tasting room, as a copy of the original tasting and sales area of Oio Vivo situated in the middle of the largest individual olive grove in Istria, was breathed into the interior of the premise.

And, while on the one hand visitors of the Istrian shop, along with tasting, enjoy an open view of the olive grove, Pula and the Brijuni Islands in the glassed-in area, with the synergy of Croatian oil producers, winemakers and Državne nekretnine, the cultural and historical unit of the capital city is refreshed with the glazed views of the Oio Vivo & WINE bar which invites the people of Zagreb, their guests and tourists to taste the fruits from the rich soil of Istria, and the former Pannonia, on whose fertile soil Bogdanović vineyards and winery are situated.

Published 23. January 2023.