history

Varkaus’s industrial transformation accelerated in the early 20th century, when the Ahlström family acquired Paul Wahl & Co.’s assets in 1909. As industry expanded and investments increased, so did the need to accommodate factory guests. A dedicated Factory Hotel was founded as early as 1914, but growing traffic and visitor numbers soon created even broader demand for lodging in the area.

The story of Keskus Hotel began out of necessity. In 1917, wholesale merchant William Holopainen arranged a few rooms for travellers in his business premises near Pirtinvirta, in what was then the centre of Varkaus. As the need for accommodation grew, the operation expanded, and in 1925 a café opened in the same building. Around this time, the name Keskus Hotel became established.

As Varkaus continued to grow, the original facilities became too small. Planning for a new hotel building began in the mid-1930s, and in 1937 the new Keskus Hotel was completed on Ahlströminkatu in Päiviönsaari, close to the factories, at the location where the hotel has operated ever since. The new property included a first-class restaurant, guest rooms and a coffee bar, bringing a distinctly urban character to the streetscape. The building was designed by architect Jaakko Tähtinen.

Over the decades, the hotel underwent several upgrades. During the war years it served as a key local venue for accommodation and dining, and in the 1950s and 1960s the hotel was modernised: the number of rooms increased, restaurant and private dining areas were renewed, and a popular restaurant bar was opened with direct street access. Varkaus’s city status in the 1960s and further changes in the 1980s also shaped the hotel’s evolution.

In 1986, Hotel Oscar’s opened on the neighbouring plot and was expanded in 1990, adding the Warkaus Hall and dedicated event facilities. After extensive renovations, Hotel Oscar’s restaurant and reception areas were renewed and brought into use in early 2006.