Village shop opens in Vesanka, Finland, to revive community ties

Ellen and Risto Kortetjärvi moved to the village of Vesanka in Jyväskylä in 2021, where the idea of opening a local store began to take shape and ultimately became a reality. They opened their village shop in the fall of 2023. The store, which spans 50 square meters, also features a postal package terminal and is made from two temporary buildings from the nearby Olkiluoto nuclear power plant construction site. From the outset, it was clear that the shop would operate on a self-service basis around the clock.

In the early 1980s, Finland boasted nearly 3,500 village shops, but by last year, only 164 remained, many of which are limited to seasonal operations. Johanna Niilivuo, a migration expert at the Finnish Villages Association, emphasizes that village shops are much more than retail spaces; they often serve as community hubs that strengthen social ties among rural residents. Ilkka Nieminen, Director of the Finnish Grocery Trade Association, echoes this sentiment, highlighting the importance of these stores for both permanent and temporary residents.

Popular products at Vesanka’s shop include milk, energy drinks, and a selection of baked goods from local bakeries. According to shopkeeper Risto Kortetjärvi, the inventory is largely based on customer preferences, with the highest foot traffic occurring in the evenings. The store operates almost entirely autonomously, with staff only present a few hours each week.

Following a successful first year, plans are underway to establish a new village shop in Hankasalmi, supported by local residents who provided loans after initial bank loan applications were denied.