An ambitious and experienced entrepreneur, co-founder of Poland's first and largest burger chain, Krzysztof Kolaszewski sat on the board of the family company AB Development at the end of 2021. At the same time, he sold his stake in Bobby Burger, and invested the proceeds in the expansion of Home Concept Design Park in Katowice.
AB Development Group has been active in investment and development activities on the Polish market since 2007. It specializes in the modernization, expansion and management of commercial properties, which are centered around the theme of finishing and interior design. The company's portfolio currently includes two facilities under the Home Concept brand: Galeria Wnętrz in Warsaw and Design Park in Katowice. The operating building in Katowice's Roździeń district is currently being transformed into a retail complex thanks to its ongoing expansion. It will soon become a modern interior design park with an area of nearly 20,000 square meters. Overseeing the realization of the multi-million dollar investment and its commercialization is Krzysztof (Junior) Kolaszewski, who joined the family business at the end of 2021. He has been appointed CEO of AB Development Group, one of the steps on the road to future succession.
Business experience from catering
Krzysztof Kolaszewski is a young and ambitious entrepreneur, who in 2018 was recognized in Forbes magazine's ranking of the most influential people under 30. He gained professional experience outside the structures of the family company AB Development. During his second year at the Faculty of Management at Warsaw University, he became co-owner of the Bobby Burger chain. He completely devoted himself to his passion and the company, which became not only the first, but also the largest Polish burger chain. At Bobby Burger, he was responsible for growth in the Polish market and establishing and maintaining lasting relationships with business partners. At the end of 2021, he joined the family business, AB Development Group, where he is currently applying the experience he has gained over 9 years.
I come from a very entrepreneurial family. I have always known that I wanted to create something of my own - just like my parents. I started building my career path quite early, and had a lot of drive, ambition and independence. I didn't want to walk the line of least resistance, joining the family business right away, so as a student I found a job in a food truck. After some time I bought the shares of the then partners of Bogumil Jankiewicz, the owner of Bobby Burger, and together with him I started to develop the business. The food service industry absorbed me for almost 9 years - somewhat by chance, but it was a great adventure. We successfully developed the company from a single food truck to a thriving, profitable burger chain," says Krzysztof Kolaszewski, current CEO of AB Development. - Both the food truck and Bobby Burger will always be for me a very sentimental and important stage of my business development. I have a good relationship with Bogumil and I am always open to discussions and exchange of experiences. The past few years, especially last year, have made me reevaluate my outlook on life. I officially joined the family business, built by my parents for almost 30 years, at the end of 2021, although in fact we have been cooperating and exchanging experiences since forever," adds Kolaszewski.
As chairman of the board of directors at AB Development Group, Krzysztof Kolaszewski, primarily oversees the development of the project in Katowice and its commercialization. He sold his stake in Bobby Burger to Bogumil Jankiewicz, and invested the proceeds from the transaction largely in Home Concept Design Park. Kolaszewski is also responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive business strategy for the Home Concept brand and the entire AB Development group for the coming years.
Business based on family foundations
AB Development is a company founded by Krzysztof Kołaszewski's parents, Aneta and Krzysztof (Senior) Kołaszewski. Their other son Marcin is also a shareholder in the company, as well as an investor in the Home Concept Design Park in Katowice. The facilities operating today under the Home Concept brand are built from scratch by the company's founders and are almost 30 years old. They have served various functions over the years. The Warsaw mall is located in an attractive transportation point on the map of the capital, at 185 Jerozolimskie Avenue, with an area of 7,000 sq m. There are nearly 50 stores with a wide range of interior design and furnishing products. The Katowice facility is located on Roździeńskiego Avenue, which has a long-standing tradition as a location for stores in the finishing and interior design segment.
Our group's ambition is to create the most metropolitan interior design park in Silesia and to make our offer even better suited to the needs of the modern premium customer. We would like the Home Concept Design Park to be the destination of first choice for all those planning to build, renovate or finish an interior, including professionals who, we are sure, will appreciate the potential of this concept, its scale and quality," says Krzysztof Kolaszewski. - The expansion of the Katowice complex is a tens of millions investment, the realization of which, for a while by the situation on the market, stood in doubt. At the beginning of the year we made a bold decision to start construction. I am grateful to my family for putting their trust in me in this field and leaving me a free hand in terms of implementation," he adds.
Today, Home Concept Design Park is a place where showrooms of well-known brands are located. Currently, the Maxfliz brand has its largest showroom here. Soon the tenants will include the unique, holistic KOMFORT home concept with a wide range of finishing products, as well as accessories for interior design and decoration. The finishing and furnishing offer will be expanded to include furniture, thanks to new showrooms of the Dion and IWC Home brands. In addition, space will be developed for inspirational displays or meetings for architects and designers. As part of the expansion of the complex, AB Development Group, in consultation with the conservationist, is revitalizing the historic Chestnut Avenue, giving park visitors a place to relax among nature for a while. The implementation of projects in line with ESG indicators, is an important part of the company's strategy.
The overriding value for our group is sensitivity to the beauty around us, of which the revitalization of Chestnut Avenue is a symbolic expression. We see in nature, greenery, ecology and concern for natural heritage a great inspiration for design that follows the spirit of the times. Chestnuttrees are a noble complement to our park and a metaphor for the journey from the past to modernity," Kolaszewski concludes.
