When one era ends, another one starts: this is how the entrepreneurs at Keran Hallit will continue their journey
The temporary use of Keran Hallit in 2019–2025 offered entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to grow and network. Read more about the journey of the hall entrepreneurs and check at the end of the article where you can find your favourite service in the future.
Opportunities for growth from temporary use
Kera is an ideal place for a residential area in the rapidly growing city. It is located along good transport connections, and there are no existing significant natural sites. Keran Hallit, which has been an important place for many, must now move aside to make way for a new era. It should be noted, however, that in many respects the unique atmosphere of the halls was only possible because it was temporary.
“Temporary use enables relatively low rents, as a property that has reached the end of its lifecycle does not require any new investments. On the other hand, a building to be demolished is attractive to creative tenants and handy entrepreneurs. Such a unique meeting point for demand and supply was created specifically due to the temporary use,” explains Outi Jounila, Project Coordinator for Sustainable Urban Development in the City of Espoo.
“The flexibility arising from temporary use has been a key enabler of our growth at the halls. When coming to the halls, there was no need for us to try to predict where the coming years would take us. Instead, occupying more space at the pace of the growth of our operations was possible,” says Tiina Saarinen, the CEO of Brändäämö.
“The best thing about the halls has been the freedom to realise your own vision and even the crazy ideas. For example, adding a sand field for indoor boules would hardly have been possible elsewhere,” reminisces Maiju Nikkonen, the CEO of Tired Uncle’s Taproom.
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The hall community will be missed
As the entrepreneurs continue their journey to the next challenges, they mainly remember the wonderful community at the halls – both the other entrepreneurs and their familiar customers.
“At least half of the other entrepreneurs in the halls are our customers. Similarly, we make regular use of the services available at the halls. The halls have been a great think tank where you have got to know great people. We are really happy with our time here,” Saarinen says.
“Most of all, I’ll miss the regular customers who have become familiar to me at Kera over the years – it will be horrible if they cannot visit us in Arabia,” Nikkonen continues.
“Keran Hallit will forever remain in our memories, and we would like to thank all our customers at the halls, as well as welcome you to our new location in Otaniemi,” Laura Kanninen from Masis Brewery agrees.
The spirit of the halls does not have to end with Kera: we can all do our part in spreading the atmosphere of the halls to wherever we will be in the future.
Will you miss Keran Hallit? A sendoff party for Keran Hallit, open to everyone, will be held on Saturday 14 June – you are warmly welcome!
New directions of the hall operators
Supporting the operating conditions of the hall entrepreneurs after their time at Keran Hallit has been an important goal for Espoo. Many of them have found new premises in Espoo: companies are moving to Karaportti, Leppävaara, Laajalahti, Otaniemi and other parts of Kera such as Vitikka and Kutojantie, for example. Some of the companies are heading to other parts of the Helsinki metropolitan area. Below, we have compiled information about the new addresses of the operators we were able to reach.
Brändäämö’s new premises are a stone’s throw from the halls at Vitikka 1.
In the future, you will be able to find Darts Box Espoo at Luomannotko 4.
Is it Cooking has opened a new lunch restaurant at Vitikka 2, 3rd floor, entrance on the courtyard side.
Kera Snooker will move to the other side of the railway to the Nokia Campus at Karakaari 3, Espoo.
Kivipiste will open a showroom and tile shop in Lauttasaari at Pohjoiskaari 9 b, 00200 Helsinki.
Masis Brewery is now at Otaniemi, address Tietotie 2, 02150 Espoo (in the courtyard of the building). Masis Brewery has also been expanded: in addition to a brewery shop, it now has a taproom where you can enjoy beer on site.
Padel House can now be found at Rosegarden, Turveradantie 16, Espoo.
ResultElf moved to Otaniemi already at the turn of the year, address Otakaari 7, 02150 Espoo.
Tired Uncle Brewing and Taproom will continue at Toukola in Helsinki, address Hämeentie 135, in August. In addition to the brewery, the new premises in the historic Arabia 135 city block will house a restaurant and a brewery shop. The restaurant will be opened in August, and the brewery will be fully operational during the autumn.
Ultimate Foods will open at Kilonkartanontie 3 (directly behind the Pelican warehouse) on 23 June 2025.
