HAPPILY MARRIED

Loznica, Serbia

Dragan Despopović has been the owner of Štirske Véceri for 30 years now. It’s strictly a working man’s, coffee and rakia drinking café/bar. Food isn’t served and women don’t tend to visit. If you order a ‘married coffee’ you’ll get a cup of black coffee with a shot of rakia on the side. Dragan says about 40 % of his customers 'are the marrying type'.

Miloš works with his father behind the bar.

'My business hasn't changed much in 30 years. It looks the same as it did when I started’. - Dragan Despopović

‘I keep my prices low, I’m not making a lot of money. I just like working with people’.
- Dragan Despopovic

Words and images by Fred Shively and Paul Kelly, the Balkan Caffeinators