Hahn Development LLC
Commercial Real Estate
2003–2011
Managing Partner
A portfolio spanning two Northern California municipalities, generating over $800,000 in annual net lease revenue.
Alex Hahn
Commercial real estate principal, entrepreneur, and civic leader. More than three decades building businesses and advancing Oakland’s economic development.
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Oakland, California
About Alex
Business. Community. Oakland.
From Seoul, Korea to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Commercial asset and portfolio management, acquisitions, dispositions, and lease structuring. Experience directing multimillion-dollar portfolios, capital improvements, tenant relations, and municipal code compliance.
Business Portfolio
Built Through Experience
HGI
Multi-Unit Enterprise
1999–2013
Chief Executive Officer
Corporate acquisitions, operational turnarounds, centralized accounting, and concession placement at Oakland International Airport.
Emil Villa’s Barbeque Restaurants
Hospitality & Turnarounds
1999–Present
Chief Executive Officer
Acquired a distressed restaurant chain out of bankruptcy and restored long-term solvency and sustainable profitability.
1/4lb. Giant Burgers
Quick-Service Restaurants
1995–Present
General Partner
Acquisition, development, and management of a regional restaurant portfolio, with standardized operations and a scalable franchise model.
Earlier Ventures & Development
Early Retail Career21 grocery stores
Owned and operated grocery stores before expanding into real estate investment and development, as reported by the San Francisco Business Times.
West OaklandAcorn Shopping Center
Selected as a supermarket operator in the late 1980s; later acquired the property from the Oakland Redevelopment Agency.
Downtown OaklandCommercial & residential investment
Coverage identified Hahn with the former I. Magnin building in 1997 and reported ownership of eight Oakland buildings in 2003.
Oakland DevelopmentTelegraph Avenue & Lake Merritt
Expanded into retail, residential, and mixed-use development, with continuing Oakland projects covered by the press in 2016.
Civic Leadership
An Oakland Legacy
Oakland Koreatown
In 1995, Hahn purchased an approximately 18,000-square-foot property at 2600 Telegraph Avenue, bringing Sam Won BBQ and a Korean pool hall to the former Sears automotive site.
His business recruitment helped establish a Korean commercial district, attracting businesses including Kyopo Market / Koreana Plaza, Nara Bank, Hankook Ilbo, and a KIA dealership.
Through the merchant association and the early development of Koreatown Northgate (KONO), he worked on neighborhood safety, municipal improvements, and commercial renewal.
National Korean American Chamber of Commerce
Led national operations, regional charter expansion, and business development. Organized bilateral trade delegations to the Republic of Korea, China, and Kazakhstan.
City of Oakland — Economic Redevelopment Commission
Advised on economic redevelopment policy, public-private revitalization, and commercial corridor improvements.
Koreatown Development Association / Merchants Association
Established the merchant association to advance neighborhood safety, municipal improvements, and commercial revitalization along the Koreatown corridor.
Korean Chamber of Commerce (Regional Chapter)
Led regional business advocacy, membership expansion, and municipal economic outreach.
Alameda County Parks and Recreation Commission
Contributed to infrastructure planning, capital improvements, and public park oversight.
Business Across Borders
East Bay Express also reported on Hahn’s efforts to encourage economic exchange between North Korea and the Korean-American business community.
Boards & Affiliations
- Bay Area World Trade CenterBoard Member
- Greater Oakland International Trade CenterBoard Member · 1997–Present
- Oakland Symphony CommitteeBoard Member · 1998–Present
- East Bay 100 ClubMember · 1996–Present · First Korean-American Inductee
Education
- Kyung Hee UniversityBA in Economics · 1958–1962 · Seoul, Korea
- City College of San FranciscoHotel & Restaurant Management Studies
- San Francisco State UniversityAttended
Youth & Community Involvement
- Young Life Christian Organizations
- Berkeley Youth Cougars Inner City Football Leagues
- Korean Youth Cultural Community of East Bay
- California Police Activities Leagues
Career
Decades of Enterprise
Managing Partner
Hahn Development LLC
2003–2011- Managed an 11-property commercial retail portfolio across two Northern California municipalities, with over $800,000 in annual net lease revenue.
- Negotiated strategic asset dispositions yielding up to 55% gross profit on transactions.
- Led capital expenditure programs, contractor negotiations, and renovations with municipal code compliance.
- Oversaw tenant relations, property maintenance, operational teams, and fiscal controls.
Chief Executive Officer
HGI
1999–2013- Directed corporate acquisitions and operational performance across a 12-location enterprise.
- Stabilized distressed revenue streams through targeted promotional and operational strategies.
- Established centralized managerial and financial accounting controls.
- Secured concession placement within Oakland International Airport.
Chief Executive Officer
Emil Villa’s Barbeque Restaurants
1999–Present- Acquired a distressed four-location full-service restaurant chain out of bankruptcy.
- Executed an operational turnaround that restored solvency and sustainable profitability.
- Consolidated procurement and supply chain logistics, and standardized quality control across operating units.
General Partner
1/4lb. Giant Burgers
1995–Present- Acquired, developed, and managed 10 quick-service locations in Northern California.
- Established operational blueprints, vendor contracts, and standard operating procedures for a scalable regional franchise system.
Honors & Recognition
Recognized for Leadership
Businessman of the Year
Businessman of the Year 2000, awarded by the San Francisco Korean Chamber of Commerce.
San Francisco Korean Chamber of Commerce
Award of Recognition
An award of recognition conferred by Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris.
City of Oakland · Mayor Elihu Harris
Certificate of Honor
Honored on his appointment as president of the national Korean-American chamber.
View certificate ↗City & County of San Francisco
First Korean-American Inductee
Became the first Korean-American inductee of the East Bay 100 Club.
East Bay 100 Club
Businessman of the Year
Businessman of the Year 2000, awarded by the San Francisco Korean Chamber of Commerce.
San Francisco Korean Chamber of Commerce
In the Press
The Story of a District
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Recognition from former Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown
San Francisco Examiner
An Oakland Korea town rising
View PDF ↗
Oakland Tribune
Immigrants fashioning new ethnic district in East Bay
View PDF ↗
San Francisco Chronicle · 2002
Oakland’s got Seoul
View PDF ↗
East Bay Express · Magazine cover · 2009
Not Your Typical Ethnic Enclave
View PDF ↗
The Korea Times
오클랜드 한인타운 개발합시다
View PDF ↗
San Francisco Business Times · 2006
Toll Brothers’ Oakland highrise proposal at risk
View PDF ↗
The Times · 1997
Oakland looks to Vegas for retail win
View PDF ↗East Bay Express · International economic exchange · 2003
Learning to Love the Axis of Evil
Read online ↗The Monthly · 2011
How Oaklandish Can You Be?
Read online ↗San Francisco Chronicle · 2016
Kwik Way to approval looks like more housing for Oakland
Read online ↗Contact Me
Ways to Connect
Alex K. Hahn
Email[email protected]
Phone418-510-3332