The Hakaniemi Market Hall in Helsinki celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, and continues to attract both customers and vendors despite the fact that most other market halls have disappeared from the capital.

   

At present, one vendor stall is available in the market hall, and the City of Helsinki Real Estate Department has received twenty applications for the space.

   

Customers can shop on two floors in Hakaniemi - the first floor is reserved for food, and the second floor for specialty shops.

   

The first days of the week, Monday through Wednesday, are normally quiet in Hakaniemi, but business picks up as the weekend approaches. Saturdays are very busy, as are the days before Christmas and other holidays.

   

Customers are attracted by the selections of rare items that can be hard to come by in regular supermarkets. Good, friendly service is also important.

The main problem

faced by the Hakaniemi Market Hall is that the vendors disagree over several issues. The vendors have a total of three associations. As a result, the market hall has not had one advertising campaign for the past two years, and the City of Helsinki has not granted the market hall any financial assistance for marketing.

   

Also, the vendors disagree on the opening hours, which are currently from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some vendors feel the evening hours should be extended, so that people returning from work would have more time to shop, others insist on closing at six.

   

In addition to the Hakaniemi Market Hall, only the Market Hall by the Helsinki Market Square remains in the capital city. The market hall in Hietalahti specialised in antiques last fall. Other, smaller covered markets have fallen by the wayside over the last 20 years.

   

The previous theme in Hietalahti was organic food, which did not prove successful. The antique theme has attracted plenty of customers during the first two months of business.