Russian invasion of Ukraine forces closure of 59-year-old Finnish roadside service station

A historic roadside service station in Joutsa, central Finland, will shut down this week after nearly six decades in operation, with its owner citing economic fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as the final blow, reports Yle.

Jaakko Ikonen, the owner of Huttula service station along Highway 4, confirmed that the business filed for bankruptcy on Monday. The site will remain open only until the end of this week to fulfil existing reservations. Staff wages have been paid through Saturday, with eight employees affected in the final payroll—down from an average of ten in recent years.

“I’ve employed people here for 59 years on the strength of a single crossroads,” Ikonen said.

While financial struggles began during the Covid-19 pandemic, Ikonen identified the Russian invasion as the decisive factor. The station’s fuel pumps had been leased to Teboil, and when boycotts against the Russian-owned brand intensified, customer numbers plummeted. The pumps were closed last autumn, leaving the restaurant dependent solely on local patrons. The business had not sold fuel itself for 15 years.

Founded in 1967 by Ikonen’s parents, Huttula is among the last remaining rural roadside restaurants in Finland to stay under the same family ownership since the 1960s. The site gained attention last autumn when Ikonen sold the land to Tradico, a company later linked to Russian interests, while Teboil acquired the fuel infrastructure—pumps, canopies, and tanks.

Though the subsequent media scrutiny was “unpleasant,” Ikonen described its impact as primarily emotional. “It may have been the final nudge toward closing,” he admitted. Originally, he had planned to continue until autumn, but funds have now run out.

Ikonen expressed hope that the strategically located restaurant, situated at a major intersection, will find a new operator to continue its legacy.