News
Latest from Old Varkaus — new services, events and development.
Ahlströminkatu 22 now offers an artist residency where the apartment, the studio and the exhibition space are all at the same address. The gallery opened with an exhibition by visual artist Unski Immonen; the mayor of Varkaus, Henri Tanskanen, visited the opening.
Galleria Tertunkulma has opened on the street level of Ahlströminkatu 22. The opening exhibition is by visual artist Unski Immonen, who grew up in Varkaus. The gallery is open on Friday 11 September from 3 to 7 pm and on Saturday 12 September from 12 noon to 6 pm. The artist is present on both days, works are for sale and entry is free.
The gallery also gives local makers and companies a new venue: the 76 m² street-level space is rented out for a weekend, a week or a month for exhibitions, showrooms, pop-up shops or project offices. Available dates and prices at tertunkulma.fi/galleria, tel. +358 40 923 3970.
A restaurant space of about 200 m² has become available on the street level of Pankkitalo at Ahlströminkatu 20, in the very centre of Varkaus. The kitchen stays in place with its fittings and equipment, so the doors can open without a large initial investment.
A lunch and breakfast restaurant is the preferred use. The factory, Navitas and the city hall are all within walking distance, and the accommodation properties in the area bring customers from early morning — joint marketing and breakfast cooperation are both possible. More information: vuokraus@pankkitalo.com, tel. +358 40 125 9291.
A new grill opened on Päiviönsaari in August 2026 at Ahlströminkatu 17. The menu features traditional Finnish grill food, and the place serves on the main street in the evenings and late into the night.
It is run by local entrepreneurs who previously worked at Kisa-Grilli. Open Mon–Thu 11:00–01:00 and Fri–Sat 14:00–05:00, closed on Sundays.
The European Commission awarded Varkaus's industrial heritage the European Heritage Label on 24 February 2026. Varkaus is the third site in Finland to receive the label — and one of the few European industrial heritage sites.
The recognition covers three nationally significant built heritage areas, the protected rapids landscape and nearly 300 years of industrial history. Varkaus differs from other sites in that it remains an active industrial area — not a museum piece, but a living and developing town.
The historic Korpela at Savontie 9 has a new owner. All 20 apartments have been fully renovated and refurnished. The property now serves as furnished accommodation for workers and companies.
During renovation, a large terrace was built in the courtyard. Korpela is once again full of life and part of a new chapter in Old Varkaus.
Tertunkulma Oy expanded its operations by acquiring a property at Ahlströminkatu 22 on Päiviönsaari. The building is in a prominent location on the main street, and renovation work is underway.
The property will house rental apartments, furnished penthouses, commercial and office spaces, and advertising locations. More info: tertunkulma.fi, tel. 040 923 3970.
The Finnish tex-mex restaurant chain Pancho Villa opened in Varkaus in April 2026. The restaurant operates in the former Rosso premises at Ahlströminkatu 21, and is the chain's 55th restaurant.
Weekday lunch buffet, burgers, tortillas and an extensive à la carte menu. All food prepared from scratch in-house.