The Reijonsaari family bought a new restaurant culture to Uusikaupunki – the idea for Gasthaus Pooki began in Switzerland
- January 1986 marks an important milestone in the lives of Kaija and Simo Reijonsaari. That was when the business they had long dreamed of finally opened its doors on Ylinenkatu in Uusikaupunki.
The Reijonsaari family, along with their 7-year-old daughter Karita, had moved from Helsinki to their new hometown to fulfill Kaija and Simo’s long-held dream of running a restaurant and guesthouse under one roof.
Gasthaus Pooki became a way of life for them—and a permanent part of everyday life for many residents of Uusikaupunki.
What originally drew the Reijonsaari family to Uusikaupunki? The answer lies in a former bank building completed in 1911, located next to the town square and church.
This solid stone building, rich in history, had completely captivated them during their visits to Uusikaupunki. When it eventually came up for sale, they did not hesitate long. The deal was made, and the Reijonsaari family were filled with excitement as the final pieces of their dream fell into place.
Their dream house became both a home and a workplace for the family.
What originally drew the Reijonsaari family to Uusikaupunki? The answer lies in a former bank building completed in 1911, located next to the town square and church.
This solid stone building, rich in history, had completely captivated them during their visits to Uusikaupunki. When it eventually came up for sale, they did not hesitate long. The deal was made, and the Reijonsaari family were filled with excitement as the final pieces of their dream fell into place.
Their dream house became both a home and a workplace for the family.
Simo explains that the concept for the business took its final shape during a work trip to Switzerland. In Central Europe, family-run businesses that combine accommodation and dining have a long tradition.
“Why couldn’t the same concept work in Uusikaupunki?” he thought.
Opening the restaurant doors was an eagerly awaited but also nerve-wracking moment for the entrepreneurs.
“It was late January, and we wondered whether anyone would come at all,” Simo recalls.
The concern proved unfounded: from the very first day, customers arrived in a steady stream, even forming queues. The couple still remembers the warm reception they received.
“We felt very welcome,” Kaija describes the atmosphere of those early days.
Over the decades, Gasthaus Pooki has expanded its operations. A wooden house in the same courtyard now hosts Juhlapooki, a venue for celebrations. The park-like courtyard area enclosed by the buildings serves as a summer terrace—an inviting living room for both locals and visitors.
One highlight of the entrepreneurs’ career came in 2012, when they received the prestigious national PRO Award in Helsinki, the highest recognition in Finland for the hotel, restaurant, and catering industry.
When Kaija and Simo started, there were no other restaurants in the city where one could enjoy a multi-course meal. A maritime atmosphere has been part of the restaurant’s brand from the very beginning. For example, Pooki’s traditional archipelago buffet remains highly popular.
Menus are updated frequently, and the latest offering includes, among other things, Baltic herring and perch, as well as Pooki’s long-standing pepper steak for meat lovers.
“We favor local ingredients. For example, we get our fish fresh from the local supplier Kalaset and vegetables from Heinonen’s farm shop,” Simo says.
On the dessert menu, one dish has remained since the very beginning: the Pooki Special, made with the famous Uusikaupunki meringue, vanilla ice cream, raspberries, and Pooki’s own warm caramel sauce.
The number of corporate customers has declined slightly in recent years due to the increase in remote meetings, but the use of event spaces has grown.
“We host a lot of birthdays, christenings, and memorial services,” Simo explains.
Hotel guests often return to Pooki. Among them is former President Tarja Halonen, who has visited the city several times.
“Once, on behalf of the Uusikaupunki Entrepreneurs, I had the honor of welcoming Halonen to the city,” Simo recalls.
The “grand old man” of the local restaurant scene made a lasting impression on the president. Later, upon seeing the restaurateur at Pooki, Halonen joked to her table companions: “I’ve had a relationship with this man before.”
Summer is the busiest season at Pooki, and the need for staff increases. The entrepreneurs, who have already passed official retirement age, say that working with young people brings new energy and enthusiasm to their work as well.
This spring, the permanent team at Pooki was strengthened by Ella Viitanen, who started as head of restaurant services. The head chef is Matti Stig.
The entrepreneur couple, clearly content with their life, eagerly lists the best aspects of their hometown-things that, in their view, those living in crowded urban areas can only dream of.
Everything is close at hand, whether you want to go hiking, golfing, or boating.
“I don’t think many people in Helsinki fully understand how easy and affordable life is here,” Simo says, referring to housing prices, well-functioning cycling and pedestrian routes, and a wide range of services.