Vesa Keskinen tells Iltalehti that the re-use of the bypass spaces of the Hakaniemi shopping hall has received a lot of praise.
A building familiar to many Helsinki residents now stands in the yard of Tuuri Kyläkauppa. In June 2023, entrepreneur Vesa Keskinen bought the sheltered premises of the Hakaniemi shopping hall for himself for 440,000 euros. The relocation work started in September.
– Moving and construction went well. Almost 50 truck-loads of halls were moved to the Kyläkaupa yard as scheduled, and the builders got to work right away, Keskinen tells Iltalehte.
He continues that the premises have been “dedicated” to use with the opening in February and a large clothing store operates in the building.
– Same hall, but different content. Now it’s a bright space.
– The reuse of the hall has received a lot of praise both directly from customers and also in writing. I feel that reuse in this building is as successful as it can be. I am really satisfied with the building, Keskinen continues.
The familiar building from Hakaniemi now stands in the yard of Tuuri Kyläkauppa. Minna Haapalainen
Keskinen says that he visited the hall already when the shelters were standing on the Hakaniemi market. At that time, the premises were filled with the sales points of several different entrepreneurs.
– I visited once to satisfy my curiosity in the summer of 2018. There was a nice atmosphere and the mood to do things.
This is what the entrance looks like. Minna Haapalainen
Instead of small stalls, the hall is now one big space. Minna Haapalainen
Family routine
Iltalehti caught up with Keskinen from Brazil, where the family has spent a skiing holiday. Holiday Jane– in the wife’s home country is two weeks long, and the children got their schoolwork with them on the trip.
– The trip to Brazil was for the children’s skiing vacation week and after promising to teach the children, we got permission to stay for another week.
Vesa and Jane have children born in 2013 and 2015. Jenni Gästgivar
However, Keskinen himself has not been content to just go on vacation, and he followed the opening of the clothing store remotely, via phone calls and pictures. The pace of work has remained up anyway.
– I can’t bear to be apart from the iPad, because I get interesting e-mails all the time.
Otherwise, the first year in the Keskinen family has gone smoothly.
– Children grow and develop. Comfortable family life in the small village of Tuuri, Keskinen adds to everyday life.
Hakaniemi’s shopping hall was renovated for several years, when evacuation facilities became necessary. This is what the hall looked like in Helsinki. KIMMO HAAPALA