Arsenali keskus

Arsenali keskus (also written Arsenal Keskus or Arsenal Center) is a shopping centre in Tallinn, Estonia, located in the Põhja-Tallinn city district. It opened in autumn 2016 in a historic red-brick building that was originally constructed as part of the Arsenal armament factory complex. The centre combines imperial-era industrial architecture with modern retail amenities, and at its opening it housed more than 30 shops and service providers together with eight cafés and restaurants. The centre is positioned as a local everyday shopping and dining destination rather than a large regional mall. Its tenant mix includes a grocery store for daily needs, a range of specialised shops and services, and several cafés and restaurants. The official website promotes it as "Põhja-Tallinna Keskus" (the centre of Põhja-Tallinn) and highlights a brand outlet offering, street-food concepts such as Uulits Tänavagurmee, lunch offers, and community events including an apple festival, a dog day, and an exhibition about bomb-detection dogs. The building itself has a long military-industrial history. Construction of the Arsenal armament factory building began in 1917 during the late Tsarist era. Originally intended as a barracks, it was not completed before the end of the Tsarist period and instead was used during the Estonian War of Independence for producing various goods needed by the army. In the early years the factory, then called Arsenal, focused on adapting weapons left in Estonia after the First World War and the Estonian War of Independence, and later supplied the Estonian Defence Forces. Arsenal produced submachine guns, rifles, grenades, gas masks, anti-tank mines, artillery ammunition, optical equipment, cartridges and weapon parts, and even built armoured cars. At the beginning of the Second World War the newest equipment and archives of Arsenal were transferred to Russia; after the war the buildings housed a Soviet naval artillery arsenal engaged in maintenance and repair of naval and coastal artillery and later also missiles and optical and electronic weapon equipment. In the early years of the restored Republic of Estonia, Arsenal fulfilled orders for the Estonian Defence Forces until the buildings were sold in 2012, after which the site was redeveloped into the shopping centre that opened in 2016. Arsenali keskus operates as a commercial brand and retail destination in Tallinn, with its identity closely tied to the heritage of the Arsenal factory. It serves the surrounding Põhja-Tallinn neighbourhood and visitors interested in the adaptive reuse of historic industrial architecture.

The building that now houses Arsenali keskus began as part of the Arsenal armament factory complex. Construction of the Arsenal factory building started in 1917, at the end of the Tsarist era. The classical-style building was initially planned as a barracks. However, because it was not completed during the Tsarist period and could not be used as a barracks, the Arsenal building was already being used during the Estonian War of Independence for the production of various goods needed by the army. In its early years, the factory — then called Arsenal — had as its main mission the adaptation of weapons left in Estonia after the First World War and the Estonian War of Independence. Later, Arsenal took on the task of supplying the Estonian Defence Forces. The factory produced submachine guns, rifles, grenades, gas masks, anti-tank mines, artillery ammunition, optical equipment, cartridges and weapon parts. It even built armoured cars. At the beginning of the Second World War, Arsenal's newest equipment and archives were transferred to Russia. After the war, the Soviet naval artillery arsenal was located in the buildings; it was engaged in the maintenance and repair of naval and coastal artillery, and later also missiles and optical and electronic weapon equipment. In the early years of the Republic of Estonia, Arsenal fulfilled orders for the Estonian Defence Forces until the buildings were sold in 2012. After the sale, the historic red-brick building was redeveloped. The shopping centre opened in autumn 2016. At its opening, more than 30 shops and service providers and 8 cafés and restaurants opened their doors at Arsenal. The centre is described as having unique architecture and history: the historic red-brick building is a combination of imperial architecture and modern conveniences. It includes a grocery store necessary for daily life, specialised shops and services, and several cafés. The centre operates under the name Arsenali keskus (also rendered Arsenal Keskus or Arsenal Center) and is located in the Põhja-Tallinn district of Tallinn. Its official website presents it as "Põhja-Tallinna Keskus" and promotes brand outlets, street food, lunch offers and community events such as an apple festival, a dog day and an exhibition about bomb-detection dogs.

• 2016

  Arsenali keskus shopping centre opens in autumn; more than 30 shops and service providers and 8 cafés and restaurants open at Arsenal.

• 2012

  The Arsenal buildings are sold.

• 1917

  Construction of the Arsenal armament factory building begins at the end of the Tsarist era.

• During the Estonian War of Independence, the unfinished Arsenal building is used for producing goods needed by the army.

• In its early years, the Arsenal factory focuses on adapting weapons left in Estonia after the First World War and the Estonian War of Independence, and later supplies the Estonian Defence Forces.

• At the beginning of the Second World War, Arsenal's newest equipment and archives are transferred to Russia.

• After the Second World War, the Soviet naval artillery arsenal operates in the buildings, maintaining and repairing naval and coastal artillery and later missiles and optical and electronic weapon equipment.

A neighbourhood shopping centre in Põhja-Tallinn combining historic Arsenal factory architecture with everyday retail, dining and community events.

• Grocery store

  A grocery store necessary for daily life is located in the centre.

• Specialised shops and services

  The centre includes specialised shops and services.

• Cafés and restaurants

  Several cafés and restaurants operate in the centre; at opening there were 8 cafés and restaurants.

• Brand outlets

  The official website promotes Põhja-Tallinna brändioutletid (brand outlets).

• Uulits Tänavagurmee street food

  Uulits Tänavagurmee street food is now available at Arsenal.

1. 1Arsenal Keskus - Põhja-Tallinna Keskusarsenalkeskus.ee
2. 2Arsenali keskus - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Arsenali keskus - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org