New shopping center opens in Puotila, Helsinki, replacing historic site

In the early 1960s, a residential area known as Puotila was established in the eastern outskirts of Helsinki, featuring one of Finland’s first suburban shopping centers at its heart. During its peak in the 1960s and 70s, the center included three grocery stores, up to four banks, and various shops like a shoe store, newsstand, and a bookstore. A highlight during the holiday season was the arrival of Santa via helicopter.

A significant shift occurred in 1965 with the opening of Puhos shopping center in nearby Puotinharju, which became the largest in Finland at that time. Seven years later, the opening of Itäkeskus further spurred the decline of Puotila, leading to the exodus of specialty stores, leaving mainly grocery shops and bars.

The original shopping center in Puotila, built in 1961, was recently replaced by a new residential and commercial building, completed in summer 2024. The former flat-roofed center has been demolished, making way for a complex featuring 113 rental apartments and six retail spaces, including a grocery store, kiosk, and bar, with another bar and a restaurant on the way.

This redevelopment mirrors a broader trend in Helsinki, where similar projects have revitalized shopping centers in areas like Kannelmäki and Myllypurto. Future renovations are also planned in North Vuosaari, Kontula, and Siltamäki. As these urban transformations take place, questions arise about the impact on the neighborhood’s identity.

Local resident Mikko Sorsa, who has lived in Puotila for nearly 20 years, considers the changes necessary and welcome. Despite the loss of the old shopping center, he hopes for more community spaces and cultural events in the area, emphasizing the need to sustain local services alongside new developments.