Major renovation begins in Jyrkkäkoski Ruukki – after renovation, the café-restaurant can also be open in winter

There is a large wooden building on the edge of the bubbling rapids. — The Jyrkkäkoski refinery has been on the banks of the river since 1831.

The municipality of Sonkajärvi, which is contributing tens of thousands of euros to the costs, will raise the rent of the entrepreneur operating on the site.

The Jyrkkäkoski foundry in Sonkajärvi has received more than €200 000 in EU funding for the renovation of its café-restaurant, which will allow it to be used in winter.

The major part of the renovation will involve thermal insulation of the new kitchen in the milling section and sawmill wing of the pottery building. At the same time, rainwater and any leaks will be diverted away from the building. The renovation is scheduled to start in October.

The building is owned by Sonkajärvi municipality. The municipality is contributing to the costs with a self-financing contribution of over EUR 90 000.

The municipal council decided last November that before the repair project is implemented, the lease agreement with the current entrepreneur will be updated. The matter will be discussed at the municipal board meeting on Monday, January 27.

According to Jauhiainen, the amount has been nominal. The agreement was made at a stage where the municipality wanted a company that wants to develop operations in the long term.

– Now the rent will be at the market price, so to speak, Jauhiainen says.

Even if the rent goes up, he still wants to continue as the entrepreneur of Ruukki tuva.

First open in winter on request

The higher rent forces the entrepreneur to look for new customers during the winter and to develop the operation quickly. Jauhiainen starts sales and marketing work as soon as the investment is confirmed.

– We have no misconception that the place should be kept open in the winter in the same way as in the summer, says Jauhiainen.

After the repairs, you can keep basic heating on in the winter. It allows the place to be opened quickly if necessary. Until now, the premises have been emptied for the winter.

The plan is that first the cafe-restaurant will be a place to order in winter. It is also possible to keep it open on weekends during school children’s winter vacations.

In the summer, Ruukki is a tourist destination. A 30-kilometer hiking trail named Volokinpolku starts from the place. The summer residents of the area also use the services of Ruukki’s hut.

Jyrkkäkoski’s former Rautaruukki is a significant relic of the region’s industrial history and a nationally valuable built cultural environment. It was founded in 1831.

Jacket and bar iron as well as nails and castings were produced at the ironworks. It was in operation until 1919.