ABSTRACT

Chain stores have changed the retail landscape leading to the decline of small independent retail. Consequently, public street life on shopping streets is fading, and many premises have been left vacant during the past decade. However, in Finland, such transformation in the retail landscape coincides with the rapid growth of ethnic retail in some Helsinki neighbourhoods, such as Malmi, an area undergoing major urban renewal. The aim of this research is to study the current condition of Malmi public life and to investigate the capacity of ethnic retail to enhance it. Another aim is to examine how ethnic retail has been reflected in deploying scenario planning. The paper argues that ethnic retail has an evident role in improving vitality. The city of Helsinki showed willingness to integrate ethnic retail in its vision for developing the area, but with some shortcomings. The study recommends that ethnic retailers in Malmi, and similar areas, should be recognized for their role in formulating ethnic identities and reinforcing public street life. As such, the paper contributes to literature on urban renewal and space identity with a focus on future uncertainties facing small retailers.

摘要

连锁店改变了零售格局，导致小型独立零售业的衰落。因此，购物街上的公共街道生活正在消退，在过去十年中，许多场所一直空置。然而，在芬兰，零售业格局的这种转变与赫尔辛基一些社区的民族零售业的快速增长相吻合，例如正在经历重大城市更新的马尔米地区。本研究的目的是研究马尔米公共生活的现状，并调查民族零售提高这种生活的能力。另一个目的是研究民族零售如何在部署情景规划中得到体现。论文认为，民族零售在提升活力方面具有明显作用。赫尔辛基市表示愿意将民族零售融入其发展该地区的愿景中，但有一些缺点。该研究建议，应该承认马尔米和类似地区的少数民族零售商在形成民族认同和加强公共街头生活方面的作用。因此，本文为城市更新和空间认同的文献做出了贡献，重点关注小型零售商未来面临的不确定性。