Much has changed on Vaasankatu since I wrote about it in November 2006. I still walk through it daily, but last summer I felt the atmosphere had changed. I had noticed the incipient 'hipsterification' earlier, but suddenly one Sunday evening I realized that I no longer felt at home. I had turned overnight into a drab granny among the trendy 30 somethings.

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New street signs have appeared...

 

The private strippers, massage parlours and pubs are still there, but there are also new types of business: vegetarian restaurants, a gallery, a design shop, etc.

An updated list of street level businesses (no links this time):

  • private shows: LuLu (14), Hot Girls (21), Diiva (21), Velvet Room (21), Fantasy Ladies (21), Dream Girls (21), Sweet Ladies (23)
  • sex shops: Seksipiste (3), Sex-Tavaratalo Susanna Q (19)
  • 'oriental' massage: Massage (2), Jiravan Phunsap (4), Hieronta ja akupunktio (13), Fysikaalinen hieronta (14), Hieronta (18), Oriental Massage (18), Flower Massage & Spa (19), Massage (23), Rose Massage & Spa (25)
  • hairdressers, barbers, and beauty parlours: Salon Elery (2), Sisters (4), Zeidi (9), Thor Beauty (11), Salon Sina (13), Hiuskarwa (20), Ramona (25), EL-Salonki (25), Vaasankadun parturi (27)
  • pubs and restaurants: Iltakoulu (5), Kultapalmu (4), Hilpeä Hauki (7),  Pizzeria Apollo (8), SoiSoi (9), Kustaa Vaasa (10), Kallion B12 (12), Street Gastro (13), Just Vege (15), Kallionhovi (17), Viva la Vida (18), Tuk Tuk (19), Heinähattu (23), Siima Baari (25), Bar Molotow (29)
  • videos: Video Bank (11)
  • shops: Fox & Rabbit (6), Face (6), Combat Rock (7), Moonk (10), Made in Kallio (also café) (14), Antikvariaatti Pihlajiston T:mi (18), Ajan Tawarat (20), Paroni Antiikki & Design (20)
  • kiosk: R-Kioski (29)
  • travel agent: Balt-Tur (21)
  • sports: Savate Club (1), Fitness 24Seven (2)
  • repairs: Håt Data Huolto (15), Kodinkonetiimi (17)
  • other: Autokoulu Ajotaito (1-3), Tattoo Nation (4), Kalkkers (5), Kaiverrusateljee Frenzell (6), Kallion kiinteistöhuolto (8), Isännöintikeskus SPP (9), Aviaclean Lakiasiaintoimisto (9), Kiinteistö-Pentti (4), Ompeluhuone Oxana (9), Liike (13), Sorbus (15), Omalääkäri MJ (18), Alpin fysioterapia (18), Permisso Oy (18), Kallion rakennusliike (23)
  • empty: a second-hand book shop that moved away (11), a sex shop that failed to open (18)

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P.S. Strictly speaking, numbers 1 and 3 are on Vaasanpolku.