In the early 2000s, they operated seven days a week.
Businessman Jari Nakari announced the forced closure of his fish shop in Virolahti, which had been operating for nearly 20 years.
– Everything happened quickly. It was as if we crashed into a wall, – lamented the businessman.
According to him, the decline in customer flow began even before the war, but the border closure dealt a fatal blow to the business. The share of Russians among the customers of the 20-year-old shop was up to 95%. In the early 2000s, it operated seven days a week.
Nakari stated that, of course, he has local regular customers, but this is clearly not enough. In November, the shop finally closed, and a sign about the cessation of business and gratitude to customers still hangs on the rented premises.
67-year-old Jari Nakari plans to continue fish farming and wholesale sales with his son. He is unlikely to open a fish shop again.
The Disas Fish chain operates in southeastern Finland and has four stores selling both fish products and everyday goods. Currently, the stores in Nuijamaa and Imatra are temporarily closed.
Disas Fish Oy's turnover last year was 7.9 million euros. This is the lowest figure in this decade.
The CEO of the chain, Martti Tepponen, reported that the remaining stores in Hamina and Mustola are doing quite well in the current realities, and their closure is not planned.
– The store in Imatra is waiting for better times. If the border opens, we will likely reopen it. The resumption of operations in Nuijamaa is not on the agenda for now, – Tepponen stated.
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