The Vallila Machine Shop area has been a construction site for 11 years. Now it’s finally open to everyone.
Entrepreneur Raimo Sarajärvi has experienced a few sleepless nights in the last five years, when he has been responsible for a 25,000 square meter construction site in Helsinki.
The project that started 11 years ago at Vallila Konepaja is nearing its end, almost all business premises are already in operation. The Champions League and Hockey World Cup finals were the first real events, as they got people moving and into the stands of restaurants.
– This is a big entity that combines food and drink, culture, sports and events, describes Sarajärvi, who owns the biggest slice of the real estate company.
The star in the corner of the machine shop is hoped to become a meeting place similar to the “Stocka clock”. Anniina Nikander
The Train Factory complex includes, among other things, about 34 restaurants, a padel court, a gym, a cinema, Wihuri’s wholesale and an art gallery. Sarajärvi says that Train Factory is also the official stadium of the football World Cup.
– Here, if necessary, all the matches of the Games are shown on different screens, he promises.
The heart of the area is the Market Hall, which, as its name suggests, resembles a large market hall. In the middle of it is a stage and 1,350 seats for diners. The specialty of the area is that the hall full of restaurants and the terraces surrounding it are the same serving area, so customers can move freely with their drinks.
Sarajärvi says that there are events in the area all the time, and there are also concerts planned.
– The environment is great, because the history of the workshop is always present, Sarajärvi states.
Raimo Sarajärvi, who has been successful in many construction projects, took over responsibility for Train Factory as a whole five years ago. Anniina Nikander
There are concepts like Vallila Konepaja in the biggest cities around the world. As close as Stockholm and Copenhagen. Sarajärvi has traveled around to get to know most of Europe’s similar places that combine restaurants, events and culture.
The dream of revitalizing the machine shop area was born in 2017, when the former US ambassador to Finland Bruce J. Oreck bought the property. However, things did not progress at the desired pace, there was a corona, delays, things came to a standstill.
Sarajärvi was caught on sticks, after which things started to happen. He hired help Mikko Riistaman.
– This is a really complex project. I too have built a lot in my life, but this has been by far the most complex, says Sarajärvi, who has piloted construction projects such as Seinäjoki Stadium and Helsinki’s Kanavanranta.
View from the Market Hall stage. Party members can buy food and drinks from a different restaurant and still eat them at the same table. Anniina Nikander
His faith in the success of the project has never stopped, even though there have been a few sleepless nights. The numbers are already promising: 56,000 people live within a kilometer radius and there are 18,000 jobs. In addition, we believe in the growth of tourism.
– We researched such places all over Europe and noticed that everywhere tourists find similar areas. We hope for the same in Vallila.
According to Sarajärvi, finding entrepreneurs for rented premises was not difficult. Rather, you had to make a choice from a large group.
– We trust this location and the whole, Sarajärvi thinks.
Looking at the restaurant list, you notice that something is conspicuous by its absence. Vallila Konepajaja has no locations of big chains, no fast food restaurants focusing on hamburgers.
– We wanted smaller restaurants here that are not familiar to everyone. We chose enough different places. We also understand that the price level must be such that you can come and eat with your own money, says Sarajärvi.
Restaurant Tokyo is one of the food places in Market Hall. Anniina Nikander
In the food offering, different nationalities have been taken into account and different themes have been sought, so that the selection is as versatile as possible. Sarajärvi reminds us that now we are at the beginning and we will see which practices work and which ones don’t. Everything can be edited.
– This area consists of these more than fifty tenants and their activities. There is always an event and a pulse here. The area is constantly changing and living. That’s the beauty of this.
– We come here for different reasons, but then we stay here.
Sarajärvi has noticed that firsthand. Although the work goal has been completed, he is not leaving the Vallila Machine Shop for anything.