PICTURES: Mall of Tripla Opens on Thursday in Pasila

The red carpet is being rolled out for the invitational guests to arrive at the Mall of Tripla in Helsinki’s Pasila district on October 16, 2019. Picture: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today

We joined a press tour at the Mall of Tripla in anticipation of its grand opening on Thursday, October 17.

Located in Pasila, Mall of Tripla will reportedly be the biggest shopping center in the Nordic countries, but also promises much more. As a third of its retail space is reserved for various activities and experiences, the mall hopes to become Helsinki’s new home for urban culture.

The main entrance was lined with mushroom-like white saucers balanced on a single sleek pillar, giving the front something of a futuristic look. In the courtyard, construction crews were busy applying last-minute finishing touches.

Mall of Tripla houses 250 shops and services. Picture: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today

The inside was just as bustling, with construction guys, cleaners and catering staff getting the place in shape. Rows upon rows of champagne glasses were prepared for the evening’s festivities. Here, too, the futuristic mushrooms were found, except this time they formed the floor of an elevated café on the side of the entrance hall, accessible by a spiral staircase. 

Each of the six floors has its own distinct look. Picture: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today

All the shops, bars and restaurants were open, staffed and stocked, though not yet open for business. All together, Mall of Tripla houses around 250 shops and services. The signs pointing your way to your desired destination—and they are much needed in a place of this size—are designed in the style of New York’s transport system.

We spoke to Kati Kivimäki, CEO of Mall of Tripla, who shared with us her vision for the new shopping center. “This will be the new heart of Helsinki,” she said. “It will be a city within a city, offering a lot of shops, entertainment, totally new things to experience. There will be a hotel, office buildings, apartments—so a city within a city.” 

Kati Kivimäki, CEO of Mall of Tripla. Picture: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today

Mall of Tripla is counting on its connectedness with the transport hub in Pasila, especially Pasila Railway Station, which is accessible from the mall’s fourth floor, for a steady stream of customers and visitors. And these visitors will have to focus to only get shopping done and not wander off on some other adventure.

As Kivimäki explained, “The biggest attraction is the Mall of Tripla itself. There is so much to see, so much to do. We have over 60 restaurants and coffee shops. We have a Finnish Music Hall of Fame. We have the ‘down under,’ with the surfing and the beach and an activity park. And on top of that we also have the biggest selection of grocery stores in the city center, so whenever you need to buy food, this is the place to come.”

Mall of Tripla opens on Thursday at 09:00 in the morning. According to Kivimäki, various events and activities are planned, not just on opening day, but until Sunday, making this a grand opening in the true sense of the word.

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