Krzak said he puts in about 65 hours each week at his new restaurant, World Cafe, which is located at 768 Northwoods Blvd. and features eclectic, healthy and tasty dishes.
When he’s not there, he is bartending at Therapy Cafe in Dayton (30 hours per week), or being a father to his two young children or husband to his wife of five years, Richelle Krzak. Richelle grew up in Beavercreek and writes a blog, bizemom.wordpress.com.
But Krzak, a native of Koszalin and who now lives in Springboro, has long believed in the value of working hard. That’s largely because he subscribes to the American notion that hard work pays off.
“The United States is a great country, and I want to be successful,” Krzak said. “I am happy to work hard, and I know that it will pay back with success.”
Krzak left Poland when he was 19 to tend bar and serve on cruise ships, where he learned English and met Richelle. He and Richelle moved to the U.S. in 2005, and then to the Dayton area in 2006.
But the long hours Krzak works are not putting money into his pocket yet. It’s because his revenue is barely covering his expenses.
Aside from paying his five employees and buying ingredients, Krzak also has to pay rent on his store and pay his bank loans.
He said he spent $17,500 to purchase World Cafe’s equipment, a bargain considering everything he received, including an oven, ingredient station, walk-in freezer and plenty else. He then invested another $25,000 into designing the menu and renovating the store.
“One week, I’m a little bit above breaking even. One week, I am around breaking even. One week, I’m a little below,” he said.
Krzak is determined not to become the common statistic of a failed business. He is not only determined to make the World Cafe succeed, he has a goal to open other stores in the area, turning the business into a small chain.
He said his quick-serve restaurant specializes in healthy food, and Americans are in need of tastier and more nutritious options. The menu has roughly 20 food items, blending styles ranging from Hawaiian to Brazilian to Asian to Irish. “I think this is a brilliant concept, and something America will like,” Krzak said. “In 10 to 15 years, I want it to be something America cannot live without.”
Richelle said Dayton suburbs are starving for locally owned and operated eateries that provide more interesting food choices.
About the Author
