Croatian shoppers reminisce about Trieste as Zagreb's Avenue Mall loses Zara

In the 1970s and 1980s many Croatians and other Yugoslavs travelled to Trieste, then a bustling cross‑border shopping hub. Memories recalled include buying Italian jeans, Versace perfume and other goods after a long train journey, with the city described as a "shopping‑walkway of Yugoslavia" that connected people from Zagreb, Belgrade, Sarajevo and other towns.

More recently, shoppers at Zagreb’s Avenue Mall have noted the disappearance of several well‑known retailers. Zara closed its outlet and was replaced by Turkish discount chain LC Waikiki, while other brands such as Bershka, Douglas and Sephora have also left the centre. Visitors comment on the shift toward smaller, lesser‑known stores and the overall decline of the mall’s retail mix.