Vuorikatu, located in the centre of Hanko, forms a significant local business hub where specialty shops, service providers, and restaurant operators work closely together. The pedestrian street has been in use for just over 20 years. Following a major renovation carried out by the city, it has evolved into a wide, event-friendly urban space.
One of Vuorikatu’s long-standing entrepreneurs is goldsmith Sture Lagerroos, who has been operating as an entrepreneur in Hanko since the 1980s. He has worked on Vuorikatu for several decades. Lagerroos views the street’s importance primarily as a whole.
“When we moved onto the pedestrian street among other shops, we immediately noticed a huge difference. Location is absolutely essential for business,” he says.
Vuorikatu hosts a broad and diverse range of businesses. The offering includes interior design, vintage, clothing, and gift shops, beauty and wellness services, barber and hairdressing services, bakeries and cafés, as well as restaurants. According to Lagerroos, the concentration of businesses on the same street serves a wide variety of customers:
“This street is a bit like a small department store – services from many different fields can conveniently be found along the same street.”
Businesses on Vuorikatu operate through a joint entrepreneurs’ association, which is responsible for shared events and cooperation. Several public events are organised annually, such as the opening of the Christmas street, a Halloween event, and the opening of the summer season.
“The association takes care of the events. It’s a really effective solution,” Sture Lagerroos praises.
Business activity on Vuorikatu is supported by both local customers and second-home owners, as well as visitors spending weekends in Hanko. The city’s compact urban structure and good cycling conditions enhance accessibility in the town centre. According to Lagerroos, these factors are key to everyday functionality.
“Distances here are just right. Quite often, you can get from one place to another faster by bike than by car,” he notes.
Vuorikatu stands out in Hanko as an example of community-driven street-level entrepreneurship, where cooperation, a diverse range of services, and the vitality of the town centre mutually reinforce one another.
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