At Mengeder Markt since 2008
A family business
Gazmend Shabani took over the Eiscafé Dolomiti in 2008 and has run it as a family business ever since. His wife Marcelina works here, his brother Fikret serves in the parlour and stands at the ice cream machine, and a cousin and the nieces help out.
Regulars call him Gazi. First names are the rule at the Dolomiti anyway. The café closes only for three weeks over Christmas and for one week during the autumn holidays. The season does not start in April here.
The ice cream is made in the house
Gazmend and Fikret Shabani make the ice cream themselves, in a room right next to the dining area. The machines used to stand upstairs. Now they are on the ground floor, a few steps from the counter.
The milk comes from a farmer nearby. Fresh fruit comes from the weekly market outside the door, and a wholesaler supplies the rest. The counter holds milk and fruit flavours. There are also sundaes, waffles, crêpes, coffee and drinks with and without alcohol on the menu.
Market days are Wednesday and Saturday
On Wednesdays and Saturdays the weekly market is held on Mengeder Markt. On those days the Dolomiti is a meeting place, for older guests in particular. Some come every Saturday.
The café is step-free inside and out. People from very different walks of life sit next to each other at the tables who would otherwise hardly meet. There is breakfast too; guests put together what goes on the plate themselves. In winter you sit inside where it is warm, and there is still ice cream.
Where the owner comes from
Gazmend Shabani comes from Kosovo. In 1992 he fled the Balkan wars and came to Haltern am See. He had trained as an electrician, but the work he found there was in an ice cream parlour that was also called Dolomiti. In 1994 he met Marcelina, who comes from Portugal. The two married in 1997.
A large portrait of Mother Teresa hangs in the dining room. She was born near his home town and did good in her life, he says. Over the past years he has paid for new kit for six teams from local clubs.
