Entrepreneur in Finland plans to open roadside gas station after bank refusal
Entrepreneur Pekka Ryynänen has purchased the Viitostupa roadside station in the municipality of Siilinjärvi and plans to open it in October. The bank refused to finance the purchase of the property, so the entrepreneur arranged funding with a private financier, YLE News reports.
Purchase after auction
Viitostupa had previously been put up for an online auction. Ryynänen offered the highest price, but his bank said it would not finance the deal. He then arranged alternative financing and purchased the property directly from the bankruptcy estate.
The establishment is located near the busy Viitostie road in the village of Pöljä, between Siilinjärvi and Lapinlahti. The previous entrepreneurs ceased operations in the summer of 2025. The station was important not only for drivers but also for local residents, who call it the meeting place of the “Pöljä parliament.”
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Preparations for opening
Viitostupa is already about 60 years old. According to YLE News, the number of similar roadside stops in Finland has noticeably declined since the beginning of the 2000s. Ryynänen hopes that the establishment will at least cover its own costs rather than generate significant profit.
Before opening, the sewer system must be flushed, the premises cleaned, and permits obtained. The entrepreneur is also negotiating with an external operator to organize fuel sales. His plans include setting up a dance floor on the lakeshore.
