Kolinportti service station reopening delayed until September

The architecturally significant Kolinportti service station in Juuka, North Karelia, will not reopen this summer as planned, according to its new owner Jukka Suninen, who now expects the site to open in September.

Suninen, who acquired the protected building from bankruptcy proceedings late last year, cited delays in material deliveries for the setback. Energy renovation piping work only began last week, he said, and will take over a month to complete before other tasks can start.

The station’s interior remains largely unfinished, with demolition work done but no exterior renovations yet started. Suninen noted that dozens of cars still visit daily, some circling the closed fuel pumps or the restaurant’s large windows.

“The busiest tourist season will pass us by, but we can’t open while it’s still under construction,” he said.

Built in 1992 and designed by architects Olavi Koponen and Juhani Katainen, Kolinportti gained national attention when previous owners sought demolition permits. The Finnish Architects’ Association (Safa) opposed the plan, and Juuka municipality ultimately protected the building through zoning.

Suninen said the structure was not in a state requiring demolition, though it showed wear. The priority, he added, is replacing the heating system—costing roughly €300,000—to reduce operating expenses. Future investments include electric vehicle charging stations and new fuel pumps.

Once complete, the station will house an exhibition center, café-restaurant, and possibly a pharmacy, with space remaining for potential tenants like a microbrewery or safari services. Suninen confirmed the building’s exterior will remain unchanged, though interior adjustments—such as repurposing the suspended blue steel nets from the ceiling—are planned.

“Since the heating system is changing, those nets won’t be needed anymore. They could become souvenirs—or maybe grill grates,” he said.