Peťo in Albert I'mStein frames
“I didn’t find ZITA. ZITA found me.”
22. october 2026, Author: Barbara Garaj, Photo: Jakub Čaprnka
Peťo’s first visit to ZITA in Pradiareň began with a gift from his girlfriend Katka, who gave him a voucher for a new pair of frames. After a long period of wearing mostly contact lenses, returning to glasses was a welcome change. He was particularly looking forward to exploring our selection of unconventional designer eyewear.
Trying on frames with our optician Kika helped him discover which styles suited him best, although he had a feeling from the very beginning that he would go for something more extravagant. The relaxed atmosphere gave him plenty of time to try on different frames, compare them and find his favourite.
The Minami model by Polish brand Albert I’mStein caught his eye right on the shelf. He was drawn to its playful design, bold colours and delicately fluted texture, which the brand compares to ripples on the surface of water. What Peťo enjoys most is the way the frames play with light, creating beautiful reflections in the sunshine.
“The frames are even wilder than I originally imagined, but I quickly grew fond of them. And it seems I’m not the only one. My friends and even complete strangers compliment my glasses. People stop me at the market or on the street just to tell me how much they like them.”
Nová tržnica, the New Market Hall at Trnavské mýto, has been undergoing a remarkable transformation in recent years. Since 2024, Peťo has been leading the project, working alongside his team to breathe new life into this place.
Before joining the market hall, Peťo spent eighteen years in management positions at Siemens. Alongside his corporate career, he also pursued his own business ventures, ranging from a wedding agency and supplying packaged sushi to supermarkets to distributing natural wines. After so many years in the corporate world, however, he felt the need to try something completely different.
The opportunity to help revitalise Nová tržnica came at a time when the building was in decline. Tenants were leaving, and there was even talk of closing it down entirely. Although Peťo had no particular personal connection to the place before, the chance to help restore one of Bratislava’s iconic landmarks appealed to him.
“What attracted me most was the idea of being part of a major transformation of such a legendary place. If someone else had managed to make it happen, I think I would have been annoyed that it wasn’t me.”
Peťo oversees both the day-to-day operation of the market hall and its long-term development. He manages a team of employees, works with tenants, brings in new businesses and coordinates building repairs. His responsibilities also include securing funding and planning the next stages of revitalisation.
His vision is to preserve the market hall’s original character while opening it up to new possibilities. Traditional market stalls are now complemented by food businesses, cultural events and spaces for local makers.
He is particularly pleased to see so many different producers working under one roof. You can find a mushroom farm, a coffee roastery, kimchi production, a ceramics workshop and a leather goods maker here. Peťo imagines the whole place as a small urban neighbourhood, where commerce, culture and community life naturally come together.
The transformation did not happen overnight. Nová tržnica gradually came back to life, one small step at a time. A major turning point was the Winter Dobrý trh, which attracted around 10,000 visitors. We at ZITA had the pleasure of experiencing its wonderful atmosphere ourselves.
One of the new concepts is Večerná tržnica, an evening market held once a month. What began as a simple idea to extend opening hours and play some music has grown into a regular event featuring DJs, exhibitions, guided tours of the market hall, live podcast recordings and poetry readings. All the businesses contribute to the programme.
When Peťo is not busy around the market hall, you might find him out cycling. He spends his free time with his daughters and his girlfriend Katka, with whom he goes to concerts, festivals and travels around the world. And wherever he goes, his striking pink frames make him pretty hard to miss.
