Brahen Kellari closes after nearly 60 years in Turku

Brahen Kellari, one of Turku’s oldest restaurants, closed its doors last Friday after nearly 60 years in business, Yle reports. The closure left 10 employees without work.

Owner Heikki “Hessu” Martikainen said the restaurant’s cost structure had become too burdensome over time. He said the business’s financing bank no longer believed in its prospects, despite steady revenue growth.

“The cost structure became too heavy,” Martikainen said.

The decision came quickly. Martikainen said he still believed as recently as Midsummer that the restaurant would continue operating as before.

He said he would help all 10 employees find new jobs, describing them as highly skilled.

New operator sought for the premises

Founded in 1967, Brahen Kellari operated for most of its history on Yliopistonkatu street in Turku. It moved to Linnankatu street two years ago because of changes in customer behaviour and the cityscape.

Martikainen said customers had become more short-term in their planning since the coronavirus pandemic. Previously, customers might reserve a table two weeks in advance, while reservations now often arrived on the same day. The number of lunch customers had also fallen compared with 10 years ago, he said.

A new operator is now being sought for the restaurant premises. Interested parties have already visited, according to Martikainen. One possibility is that a new operator will buy the business and continue under the Brahen Kellari name. The premises could also be used for something new.

Martikainen will continue working in the restaurant industry. After a generational transfer, Cafe Brahe at Skanssi shopping centre will continue under his sons, and Martikainen said he would move there to help.

He believes the decline of Turku’s city centre has contributed to the closure. Restaurant demand has become concentrated along the riverside, he said, while the area around Brahen Kellari has no parking spaces.

Martikainen added that the closure resulted from several factors, including financing.

Other traditional Turku restaurants have also recently closed. The more than 100-year-old restaurant Teini closed last year, according to Turun Sanomat, while restaurant Panini announced its closure this year after 30 years.