The dispute over the Color Park shopping center near Zakopane has finally reached a conclusion after several years. The project, which began in 2017, was plagued by financial issues leading to the bankruptcy of the investor Zbigniew Głowacki and the subsequent auction of the unfinished building. In early October, the auction was officially confirmed by the appointed administrator, as reported by “Gazeta Wyborcza.”
Initially projected to be one of the largest shopping centers in the Podhale region, construction of Color Park halted due to the financial struggles of Głowacki’s company, Nowotarska. In 2023, a court declared the company bankrupt. Despite efforts by Głowacki to reclaim the project, including attempts to contest the legitimacy of the sales process, the legality of the auction was upheld by the administrator.
The incomplete Color Park was auctioned off for 70 million PLN, although its initial price was set at 85 million PLN. Głowacki, who had claimed to be related to famous Polish author Bolesław Prus, faced significant challenges in his efforts to regain control of the site.
New Owner Promises Completion of the Project
The end of Głowacki’s ambitious plans does not spell the end for Color Park, as the new owner, Janusz Stopiak, a businessman from Nowy Targ, has committed to finishing and opening the shopping center. In an interview, Stopiak stated that shoppers would be able to start using the facility by December of next year.
According to prior plans for the Color Park, the shopping center was expected to include two supermarkets, a cinema, a retail corridor with 60 stores, and parking for 600 vehicles. To facilitate access for customers, a roundabout was constructed nearby, and reportedly, 95% of the retail space was reserved even before construction began.
