DALLAS — It's hard for any foodie to turn down a piece of fresh bread, or special cheeses, or even just a regular hamburger.
For Bosnians, Albanians, Montenegrins, and Slovenians, there's only one place in Dallas they're able to get a taste of home: Eddie's EuroMart.
The Balkan marketplace and restaurant sits next to the railroad tracks just off I-635 on East Garland Road.
Eddie's EuroMart has been visited by international NBA stars like reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, Houston center Boban Marjanovic, and Dallas' own superstar Luka Dončič.
The store's namesake is Enver Kolenovic, who goes by Eddie Kola and is one of the Dallas area’s most prolific restaurateurs. His Italian chain, Eddie’s Napoli’s, has grown from Garland to Prosper, Frisco and Amarillo.
Chef Eddie, who moved to the United States from Montenegro, opened Eddie's EuroMart as a way to serve his native Balkans living in DFW.
"[The] state of Texas doesn't have something [like this]," Kola explains. "With the cabbage and meat and salad like we make overseas, like in Slovenia."
Kola said when Dončič comes for a visit, his go-to is the hamburger with Blakan cheese, called kaymak, but not before indulging in a salad made up of cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers, oil and vinegar.
Much of the credit for Eddie's EuroMart's Balkan menu goes to the three Bosnian women who serve as the EuroMart’s cooks. The trio came to Dallas on work visas specifically to work at for Kola's restaurant.
Kola tells WFAA the purpose of Eddie's EuroMart is to keep tradition alive, but he relishes in the perk of having his favorite NBA player benefit from his endeavor.
"[Eddie's EuroMart] reminds him of his home," Kola said. "Like he's there...but we're here."
"I've very happy to have [Dončič]," Kola said. "He's amazing, and they love the food, and I love them. Luka Dončič is something, one of a kind."