The Kolaj family is a local Bronx clan that sent many of their children, when they first emigrated from Albania, to Christopher Columbus High School. I do not know Paul below, but do remember John Kolaj one of the founders of the "Famous Famiglia" pizza franchise named below. Even though John Kolaj was an honor student at Columbus he had very different plans after graduation. At that time he worked in a local Pizzeria. I remember one time he came to school with a formidable burn mark on his forearm from a pizza oven. At that time he and his brothers had one goal. They planned to save enough money to find an abandoned property with a commercial store front that had enough traffic for them to open their own pizzeria. I remember going downtown with him once to the city agency that conducted the auctions to pick up the list of available properties. About 20 years have passed since we were young men together. Besides seeing his pizza shops all over town, including inside Yankee Stadium, I also heard they were negotiating a 150 strong chain in China. Congratulations to their success, especially since it came from humble beginnings and was accomplished through hard work and perseverance. If you needed an example of "Bronx Strong", here it is.
Gregory
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SoBRO proudly presents The Reginald F. Lewis Way to Wealth Lecture Series: Successful Franchising
Join the first in a series of wealth-creation lectures named after the legendary investor, Reginald F. Lewis. Learn the ins and outs, rewards and risks of franchising from a panel of industry experts especially selected by SoBRO:
PAUL KOLAJ - Vice President, Franchising Operations Famous Famiglia DeBartolo, LLC
ESTHER YIP - Owner and Operator of 5 WENDY’S franchises
DARREN HANSON - Director, Design & Construction, Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery
WILLIAM LANDERS - Vice President, Business Relationships, HSBC Bank
RADAME PEREZ - Chief Operating Officer, Mastermind, Ltd.
GARY CHIPURNOI - LUTCF Financial Services Professional, NY Life Insurance Company
MICHAEL EINBINDER - Senior Partner, the law office of Einbinder & Dunn, LLP
Ideal for entrepreneurs, investors, faculty and graduate/undergraduate students of business administration, marketing and economics!
Featuring Ms. Loida N. Lewis , Chairman and CEO, TLC Beatrice, LLC
Date: March 3, 2011 Thursday 8:30 am-10:30 am
Location: Savoy Multipurpose Room, Hostos Community College
Address: 120 E. 149th St., Bldg. D (cor. Walton Ave.), Bronx, NY
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST WILL BE SERVED.
RSVP to: Len Manansala at 718-732-7524 or by email at lmanansala@sobro.org
2 comments:
Given the Bronx's outrageously high rates of diabetes and obesity, how can anyone welcome yet more fast-food franchises to this borough? Yes, the franchise operator makes money, as do doctors and drug companies that treat these conditions. But the public suffers, and taxpayers get stuck with the bill for prooviding helath care to the poorest.
This is not something to be proud of.
Well whoever you are that wrote this comment, you obviously don't have a life. This family came from nothing and the brothers didn't even go to college because they couldn't afford it. They turned something they learned from when they were younger, into a successful business. Coming to America with no money and no family already here, and making pizza chains is one of the biggest accomplishments people can make. As for you, what have you done that sparked up interest? By the way, I'm the daughter of John Kolaj and what my family did to better their lives, has also bettered mine. I can't imagine what they went through to get to where they are today. Im PROUD of what they were able to do and I'm PROUD to be a part of a family dream and work in it.
Sincerely,
Roze Kolaj :)
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