Käpylä motel-restaurant in Keminmaa, Finland closes after seven years due to rising costs

In the town of Keminmaa, Finland, the Käpylä motel-restaurant, which evokes a nostalgic 1970s ambiance, has closed its doors after seven years of operation. Käpylä, a familiar spot for autumn travelers and summer visitors alike, has become a local institution. Rising costs and a shift of many corporate clients to rental accommodations prompted Teija-Liisa Paananen, who managed hope since 2017, to cease its lodging services.

Originally constructed in 1968, Käpylä thrived shortly after its establishment, attracting young adults from the surrounding regions, including both sides of the Tornio River. Famous artists performed at its stage, which featured notable names such as Danny and Katri Helena, and even unique acts like a world-champion striptease artist.

During its peak, dance evenings were a regular occurrence, often requiring reservations weeks in advance due to high demand. Visitors from as far as Sweden would line up, making the venue a popular meeting space in an era before social media.

Paananen emphasized the motel’s original decor, with most furnishings being authentic to its opening era. Despite expectations that nearby industrial developments would boost demand for accommodations, the anticipated influx never materialized. Instead, a surge of new housing options in the area diminished the motel’s occupancy rates significantly.

Amidst escalating operating costs—particularly rising electricity prices—Paananen decided to close Käpylä while it was still viable. She plans to shift her focus to a new restaurant and catering business on Kemin Boulevard, set to open in October.