Young entrepreneur’s all-night vigil saves kiosk during hockey celebrations

A small frozen yogurt stand in Helsinki’s Market Square survived a night of rowdy ice hockey championship celebrations after its owner, Viola Tyynilä, stayed up all night guarding it on police advice, Yle reports.

Tyynilä, a 25-year-old entrepreneur from Kotka, feared fans would climb onto her low Fråbär kiosk during Finland’s World Championship victory celebrations on Sunday night. She attached a sign reading “Don’t climb on top” but decided to keep the stand open through the night after police suggested it would deter damage.

“At first we considered fencing or other measures, but the police told us to stay open—and we did,” Tyynilä said. The strategy worked: when a few revellers attempted to climb onto the roof, she talked them down. “They listened. We explained it could break, and people were actually really nice.”

The Market Square filled within half an hour of Finland’s overtime win against Switzerland. Tyynilä and a friend watched from the kiosk as fans cheered, set off fireworks, and honked car horns. “The hockey euphoria made people let loose,” she said. “We were right in the middle of it.”

This was Tyynilä’s first summer operating in Helsinki’s Market Square after launching her business in Kotka in 2024. She called the experience “unforgettable.” “It was amazing to see up close.”