Hello all, I'm contemplating a move to Switzerland with my wife and two kids. We are currently in NJ in the states and are both Polish born, hence a move to Switzerland would be convenient when we want to visit family in Poland. Does anyone know of Polish communities in the Zurich area?
Polish community in Switzerland
Polskie Towarzystwo "Zgoda" w Zurichu - the second oldest Polish organization in Switzerland.
@atlantic, again I wish you loads of luck in your move, only do take into account what I advised regarding learning at least a little of the local language where you'll be working, even if it's an Anglo or international concern. Couldn't hurt.
Where did or do you live in New Jersey, by the way? My family and I live in Fort Lee.
Where did or do you live in New Jersey, by the way? My family and I live in Fort Lee.
@Lyzko We're in Garfield.
Garfield? There's a large Polish community there. My, my. How far abouts from Lodi? The largest Polish-American Bookstore (branch of the Nowy Dziennik!) is located in a shopping mall in Clifton:-) I knew the owner when the store used to be in Manhattan.
Cargo pants 3 | 1420
27 Jun 2023 #6
Garfield?
Good Polish food there,and a fake Biedronka owned by an Indian lol quite a ride for us to north and good quality lamb at some arabic stores.
@Cargo pants The Polish food has gone downhill recently. I stopped buying the meals from Piast when I ended up with food that seemed like it had been heated up yesterday. And apparently, Piast is supposed to be one of the better ones. Regarding the fake Biedronka, I wonder how they get around trademark infringement issues regarding use of the logo and name. I guess the Biedronka in Poland could care less and or there's very little they can do.
Thanks for the tip, Cargo pants!
Cargo pants 3 | 1420
28 Jun 2023 #9
My pleasure,Sir:)
There is another one in Lakewood NJ also a Hasidic town.They even have the symbol and sign like the Biedronka in Poland.
, I wonder how they get around trademark infringement issues
There is another one in Lakewood NJ also a Hasidic town.They even have the symbol and sign like the Biedronka in Poland.
ChrisKrzysztof
27 Nov 2025 #10
Anybody found a decent source for Kabanosi (western Switzerland around Lausanne).
I know that Lipka (in the hills above Vevey) make Kabanosi from time-to-time, but every time I tried there they have none in stock and promise a new batch "soon". It's a long drive for nothing.
Chris
I know that Lipka (in the hills above Vevey) make Kabanosi from time-to-time, but every time I tried there they have none in stock and promise a new batch "soon". It's a long drive for nothing.
Chris
Kabanosi
Are you talking about Polish kabanosy?
The Swiss seem to pay little attention to fire safety regulations. The recent tragedy only confirmed this.
ittle attention to fire safety regulations
Reminds me of the Colectiv nightclub fire in Bucharest. That fire also started with sparkler firework candles which set fire to flammable soundproofing foam on the ceiling.
I was once in a bar in Blackpool, one with a low ceiling and Christmas decorations. There was an act on, a drag fire eater, and stuff on the ceiling caught light. The bar staff were straight on it with a fire extinguisher. That doesn't seem to have happened here and sad that people were wasting precious time filming it on their phones rather than getting the hell out.
people were wasting precious time filming it on their phones rather than getting the hell out.
Disgusting and pathetic!
The emergency door was locked. I guess to keep the place safe...
The emergency door was locked.
Just like the Mexican border... 🤔
fire extinguisher. That doesn't seem to have happened here and sad that people were wasting precious time filming it
Not sure even a fire extinguisher would have helped in this case, Looks like it became an inferno almost straight away once the soundproofing foam caught light. Probably released lots of toxic fumes too. Reports say the fire exit was blocked and only a narrow staircase to get out from.
Absolutely tragic and I can't believe people stood filming the flames and not immediately fleeing.
So many parallels between the Swiss and Romanian fires. I was in Brașov a couple of years after the Colectiv nightclub fire on its anniversary and there were wreaths and flowers everywhere commemorating the victims.
@Feniks
Sounds like the owners of the pub were no innocents either, the husband was known to the Police as a pimp!
Sounds like the owners of the pub were no innocents either, the husband was known to the Police as a pimp!
the husband was
They arrested him.
And apparently the wife who managed the bar was seen fleeing with the till full of money rather than directing the evacuation.
The social media accounts of the bar were blocked while the fire was still ongoing. Those showed past renovations of the bar that could have been used in evidence. Apparently, the owner removed the old acoustic dampening foam on the ceiling and replaced it with foam from a DIY store. I'm guessing that it was highly flammable given the speed at which the fire spread.
Also, the fire exit door was locked and there had been no fire inspections during the previous six years. Former employees said fire extinguishers were kept in a locked office.
The fire was an accident waiting to happen.
That's cold.
Also, the fire exit door was locked and there had been no fire inspections during the previous six years. Former employees said fire extinguishers were kept in a locked office.
The fire was an accident waiting to happen.
the wife who managed the bar was seen fleeing with the till full of money rather than directing the evacuation.
That's cold.
Former employees said fire extinguishers were kept in a locked office.
The owner has admitted that at the time of the fire there were no fire extinguishers in the property and no sprinkler system. Staff had had no fire safety training.
Crucially, when he renovated the property he reduced the width of the basement staircase from three meters to one metre. On the night of the fire it collapsed under the weight of those trying to get out. If it hadn't been that narrow then I'm sure many more would have had the chance to escape.
I really hope the bar owners get a long sentence.