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Oct 2023

Last Updated: 05/10/2023

Business

Polish shop in Harrogate moves to bigger premises as demand grows

by John Grainger

| 05 Oct, 2023

Maciej and Kasia Bujakowski.

A Polish deli in Harrogate will relaunch in new town centre premises at the weekend.

Cracovia, which used to occupy a small shop on King’s Road, will reopen on Saturday in a larger unit on Bower Street.

Owner Maciek Bujakowski told the Stray Ferret:

“Our little shop on King’s Road had become slightly too small, so we’re moving to a bigger shop where we’ll have more space. The uniqueness of our home-made products, such as pâtés, meatloaves and sausages, gives us a strength over other shops, so we’ve become quite popular.

“If you come along on Saturday between 9am and 6pm, you’ll be able to taste different kinds of Polish food and drink, and everybody’s welcome.”

Maciek and wife Kasia not only own the Harrogate shop, but also a restaurant in Chapel Allerton and shops in Armley in Leeds, Acomb in York and Hessle in Hull. In total, they employ 15 people, including four in the new Bower Street shop.

Originally from Krakow in southern Poland, Maciek began his career with a four-year catering degree and represented his country in international food competitions.

He came to England in 2004, moving around the country for various chef positions, culminating in being made executive chef of the Kimberley Hotel in Harrogate. He opened his first shop, Magic Meat – a wordplay on his first name – on King’s Road in 2015 to cater to the town's then-growing Polish community.

He said:

“When we opened our first shop eight years ago, about 80% of our customers were Eastern European and only 20% English, but now the balance is about 50/50.

“With Polish food it’s exactly the same as with other kinds of foreign food. People come here from other places, local people try our food and like it, and it becomes more popular. I wouldn’t be surprised if in 30 years’ time, you would see Polish restaurants like you see Indian and Chinese restaurants now. It’s just the evolution of knowledge of food, and it’s changing all the time.”

Gallery: Harrogate's first Polish Heritage Day

World food supermarket opens in Harrogate today

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Polish shop in Harrogate moves to bigger premises as demand grows

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