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Hercules (nightclub)

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Hercules is a gay bar and nightclub in Helsinki, Finland. Operating since 2000, it is the third establishment opened by Moek Trading Oy. The venue caters primarily to gay men over 30, and its live entertainment features drag queens and strippers. The bar was located in Helsinki's Kamppi neighborhood until the end of 2015, when a hotel took over its space. It subsequently reopened at an address in Etu-Töölö, where it endured a number of events that caused financial strain. That location closed in December 2020, when the building was sold to new owners. The club then reopened across the street from Helsinki's central railway station in October 2021. Critics generally describe Hercules as popular, edgy and welcoming.

Hercules
Logo
Map
AddressKeskuskatu 8
LocationHelsinki, Finland
Coordinates60°10′12″N 24°56′33″E / 60.1701°N 24.9425°E / 60.1701; 24.9425
Public transitHelsinki central railway station (metro)
OwnerMoek Trading Oy (Erkki Koski and Mika Olkkonen)
Type
Opened30 August 2000 (2000-08-30)

Description

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Hercules is a gay bar and nightclub that is owned and operated by Moek Trading Oy,[1] a partnership between restaurateurs Erkki Koski and Mika Olkkonen.[2][3] It attracts a customer base ranging in age from 18 to 60[4] but caters primarily to gay men over 30, restricting entry to those 24 and older on weekends.[5][6] The venue's playlists are heavy in Europop, trance music and Finnish folk songs.[7][8] Through the end of 2020, it regularly hosted drag shows[9] and events featuring strippers.[10] As of 2014, the club was managed by Mikko Ikonen.[3][11]

To date, Hercules has occupied three spaces in downtown Helsinki.[12] Its second location, on Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu, had a dance floor on the main level, a bar in the basement, and a summer terrace outdoors.[2][4] Its newest spot, across the street from Helsinki's central railway station, is a single large room featuring a dance floor, two bars, a stage and a lounge. This location, too, has an outdoor terrace. The club shares a lobby, bathroom and coat check with an adjacent bar in the same building.[12][13] Opened in October 2021, the space is outfitted with ultraviolet lights capable of destroying the SARS-CoV-2 virus.[12] It is open from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily.[13]

History

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Upper-level dance floor of Hercules' Etu-Töölö location in 2017

In 1994, Koski and Olkkonen opened their first gay bar, Café Escale. This was followed by a second establishment, Mann's Street, in 1998. They received orders to vacate the building that housed Escale in what Koski described as an incident of homophobic discrimination, which ultimately led to Escale's closure in early 2001. While working through that situation, Koski and Olkkonen opened a new nightclub, Hercules, on 30 August 2000. They temporarily closed Mann's Street for renovation around the same time, directing their customer base to try out the new venue. Hercules became popular almost immediately. Shortly after opening, it lost its liquor license for a week when it was caught operating above capacity. Koski and Olkkonen then repurposed the kitchen and staff areas, which increased the capacity by 100 customers.[3]

From its inception through the end of 2015, Hercules was located on Lönnrotinkatu in Helsinki's Kamppi neighborhood, where it contained a dark room.[1][14] Koski and Olkkonen had the original space remodeled in 2013.[3] The club was forced to relocate at the beginning of 2016, when Hotel St. George moved into its space.[1][15][16] For the next five years, it operated at an address on Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu in Etu-Töölö.[17][1]

Those years were fraught with financial difficulties. From November 2016 through April 2017, while Koski was hospitalized for a stroke, the club's manager embezzled approximately €61,500 in cash, a crime for which he was convicted in February 2020.[2] In April 2017, Hercules received public backlash after a racially charge post appeared on its Facebook page. In a request for comment from the press, manager Antti Seppälä stated that several people had access to the venue's social media accounts and that the post must have been published to the club's profile in error.[18] Koski said that it did not represent the views of the business.[19] The venue then lost €60,000 one summer due to a pricing error on its outdoor terrace, where premium sparkling wine was accidentally sold for €3.50 less than its wholesale price. In spring 2019, Hercules was shuttered for two months following an incident that caused extensive water damage.[2]

The establishment's operation was irregular throughout 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[1][2] which caused further strain.[20][21] After closing to customers, it converted its dance floor into a TV studio, from which it hosted live-streamed talk shows,[22] drag revues, concerts and theatre events for several months.[23][24] By September 2020, Hercules had reopened and launched a new annual competition called Queer of the Year.[25] Hercules was made to relinquish its Etu-Töölö premises in December 2020, when the building's ownership changed hands.[1][20]

In October 2021, the club reopened in Makkaratalo, on the corner of Keskuskatu and Kaivokatu, across the street from Helsinki's central railway station. The new space is shared with Baarikärpänen, another nightlife venue that was evicted from the Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu building at the end of 2020.[12][13][14][26]

Reception

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Passport Magazine dubbed Hercules the most popular gay club in Helsinki.[4] Will Stroude of Attitude characterized it as a place of "Euro-pop, vodka and a mixed crowd of edgy Finnish locals".[7] The venue's GayCities.com listing reads: "Hercules ... is just as packed, fun and raucous as Helsinki's other gay disco, dtm, and can even be a fair bit raunchier."[6] After DTM, often billed as the largest gay club in Northern Europe,[5][27] entered into a state of temporary closure in June 2020,[15] Finnish news service Yle described Hercules as the largest one in the Nordic region.[28] The club's Yatra review characterizes its client base as "open-minded and friendly", adding that patrons "can let [their] guard down and have an excellent time".[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Mollgren, Sami (18 December 2020). "Yökerho Hercules joutuu luopumaan nykyisestä tilastaan" [Hercules nightclub will have to leave its present location]. Ranneliike.net (in Finnish). Sateenkaariyhteisöt ry. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Montell, Sami (12 July 2020). "Suuri kavallus vei Herculeksen tappiolle" [Massive embezzlement caused losses for Hercules]. QX (in Finnish). ISSN 1401-1794. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Montell, Sami (19 March 2014). "Homobaarien konkari haastattelussa" [Gay bar veteran in an interview]. QX (in Finnish). ISSN 1401-1794. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Discovering The Wonders Of LGBTQ Helsinki". Passport Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b de Camp, Walter (30 March 2004). "Pinkkieurojen metsästäjät - bisnesalueena gay-ravintolat" [The pink euro hunters – gay restaurants in the area of business]. Viisi Tähteä (in Finnish). ISSN 1458-8013. Archived from the original on 2 October 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Hercules". GayCities. Q.Digital. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  7. ^ a b Stroude, Will (10 January 2020). "Prison break: A gay weekend at Helsinki's famous jail-turned-hotel". Attitude. ISSN 1353-1875. Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Hercules Discos". Yatra. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Hercules". Petit Futé. ISSN 1160-235X. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Gay Helsinki: Hercules". Daily Xtra Travel. Pink Triangle Press. Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  11. ^ Montell, Sami (15 November 2014). "Tinder, Grindr, miten käy homoklubien?" [Tinder, Grindr, how does it go in gay clubs?]. QX (in Finnish). ISSN 1401-1794. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d Montell, Sami (26 August 2021). "Pian pamahtaa: Hercules avaa ovensa Makkaratalossa" [Coming soon: Hercules to open its doors in Makkaratalo]. QX (in Finnish). ISSN 1401-1794. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  13. ^ a b c Montell, Sami (29 October 2021). "Hercules III avataan tänään – avoinna joka päivä" [Hercules III to open today—open daily]. QX (in Finnish). ISSN 1401-1794. Archived from the original on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  14. ^ a b Nurmi, Juha (27 August 2021). "Yökerho sulkee ovensa! Cheekin jättitappioita tehnyt Skohan väistyy homokapakan tieltä" [Nightclub closes its doors! Skohan, which caused Cheek great losses, makes way for gay club]. Seiska (in Finnish). Aller Media [fi]. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  15. ^ a b Räty, Hanna (4 July 2020). "DTM on jo toinen hotelli St. Georgen tieltä väistynyt homoyökerho – Apulaispormestari Nasima Razmyarin mukaan lopputulos kertoo Helsingin epäonnistumisesta" [DTM is the second gay club made to get out of hotel St. George's way – According to Deputy Mayor Nasima Razmyar, this result says something about Helsinki's failings]. Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). ISSN 0355-2047. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  16. ^ Montell, Sami (8 December 2015). "Hercules joutuu sulkemaan ovensa" [Hercules must close its doors]. QX (in Finnish). ISSN 1401-1794. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  17. ^ Mollgren, Sami (5 February 2016). "Helsinkiläinen yökerho Hercules julkisti uuden sijaintinsa" [Helsinki nightclub Hercules announces its new location]. Ranneliike.net [fi] (in Finnish). Sateenkaariyhteisöt ry. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  18. ^ Montell, Sami (12 April 2017). "Gay-klubi Hercules some-kohun pyörityksessä" [Gay club Hercules embroiled in social media controversy]. QX (in Finnish). ISSN 1401-1794. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  19. ^ Montell, Sami (16 April 2017). "Herculeksen omistaja vastaa rasismisyytöksiin" [Hercules' owner responds to racism accusations]. QX (in Finnish). ISSN 1401-1794. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  20. ^ a b Montell, Sami (17 December 2020). "Hercules etsii uutta liiketilaa - kiinteistökauppa ajaa yökerhon pois jo toistamiseen" [Hercules is looking for a new space—real estate transaction drives nightclub out again]. QX (in Finnish). ISSN 1401-1794. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  21. ^ Paastela, Kaisa (13 October 2020). "HS: Nämä helsinkiläisbaarit pysyvät kiinni nyt kokonaan – 'Myynti oli 7% normaalista'" [HS: These Helsinki bars are now closed entirely: "Sales were 7% of normal"]. Helsingin Uutiset (in Finnish). ISSN 2489-4907. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  22. ^ Montell, Sami (19 April 2020). "Hercules tarjoaa koronaviihdettä – raflaavien vieraiden talk show alkaa" [Hercules offering COVID entertainment; talk show with sensational guests starting]. QX (in Finnish). ISSN 1401-1794. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  23. ^ Montell, Sami (29 April 2020). "Hercules muutettiin tv-studioksi ja sieltä striimataan täyslaidallinen viihdettä korona-vappuun!" [Hercules has transformed into a TV studio and is streaming entertainment for a COVID May Day!]. QX (in Finnish). ISSN 1401-1794. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  24. ^ Tainola, Rita (14 May 2020). "Saara Aalto esiintyy tänään viisuteemaisessa lähetyksessä – laulaa kaikki kappaleet, joilla on pyrkinyt Suomen edustajaksi" [Saara Aalto performs today in Eurovision-themed broadcast, singing all the songs she's competed with to become Finland's Eurovision representative]. Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). ISSN 1798-9760. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  25. ^ Montell, Sami (10 September 2020). "Herculeksen Queer of the Year -kilpailu tähdittää Pride-lauantain esikuvilla" [Hercules' Queer of the Year competition stars Pride Saturday's role models]. QX (in Finnish). ISSN 1401-1794. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  26. ^ Mollgren, Sami (27 August 2021). "Yökerho Hercules avaamassa syksyllä Helsingin Citycenterissä eli Makkaratalossa" [Hercules nightclub to open in the autumn in Helsinki's Citycenter, a.k.a. Makkaratalo]. Ranneliike.net (in Finnish). Sateenkaariyhteisöt ry. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  27. ^ Tabberer, Jamie (11 April 2017). "9 places to take a date in Helsinki". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  28. ^ Koskela, Miika (13 September 2020). "'Yhteiskunnan homosaatio on todellista', murjaisee HLBTQ-klubeista näyttelyn tehnyt Janne Siironen, ja valokuvat Helsingin yöstä sen todistavat" ['The gayification of society is real', jokes Janne Siironen, creator of an exhibition about LGBTQ clubs; photographs of the Helsinki night prove it]. Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). Yle. ISSN 1798-4734. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
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