Joensuu Shopping

Carlson is an independent department store chain in the Eastern Finland. Originally from Kuopio, they opened a new department store in Joensuu in 2007. Located in a prime position next to the market square, the two storey building hosts the department store and two specialist stores (electronics store and young fashion shop), all run by Carlson.

The department store itself is a bit bland, at least to my taste. The selection is focused on the lower end clothing and, for example, most of the shoes are just too plain to be considered. The houseware department is much better and there is a lot of Iittala glassware on display.

I would first go to Sokos and if you don't find something or the price is outrageous, check also Carlson.

Suomalainen Kirjakauppa has two bookstores on the same market square. This sounds stupid, but probably there are some historical reasons behind it -- other one used to be Akademic Bookstore, but some of their shops were sold to Suomalainen chain.

Both stores carry the full selection, including books, magazines, games, maps, office supplies, stationery and a limited amount of computing related items. The English book selection is at least decent and the selection of English magazines is good or even excellent. On other languages your mileage may vary.

If you are tighter on budget, Halonen might be the best solution for your clothing needs in Joensuu. Located nearby the market square (and opposite of Kek?le clothing store), Halonen store provides clothes, shoes and accessories on quite good prices. Consecutively, the brands are not the top of the breed, but still just okay.

They stock a wide variety of clothes for most of the occasions in life, excluding the most formal wear such as tail coats and tuxedos (that are not used in Finland anyhow). The clerks are quite attentive after you have get hold of one, and they are also knowledgeable.

Kekäle is by far the best place to buy clothing in Joensuu. Their store is a sort of hidden at one corner of the marketsquare, as most of the floor space is on the basement. They sell clothes for both sexes and all generations.

The ground floor, near the market square, sells young clothing. Descending down brings you to the more formal wear section for him and at the other end of the basement are clothes for her. Women's selection continues on the ground floor (not connected to the young clothing) that hosts also the children's clothes.

Kekäle has a good selection of brands, both Finnish and international. Their selection ends at the upper middle class, so don't expect finding too much of haute couture.

I've always received very good service in Kekäle. The clerks are ready to go lenghts to find clothes that satisfy my taste, and they are knowledgeable, too.

Sokos department store offers the best shopping experience under one roof in Joensuu. Mostly because it is the only real department store in the town. I personally can't consider Anttila or Citymarket as a department store...

Anyhow, Joensuu's Sokos is located next to the market square and the building hosts a few restaurants, bars and a hotel besided the store itself. The floor plan is typical to most of the department stores: parfumerie and accessories on the ground floor, women's clothes on the first floor, home stuff on the basement.

Sokos has a large selection of Finnish and international clothing brands. Nothing too fancy, but good clothes for work, leisure and party. The basement sells Iittala glassware and porcelain among others. There is also a full stocked grocery store on the ground floor.