Café Kiikku Created a New Experience for Customers – The BBQ Tables Even Got Strangers Chatting

Café Kiikku is a unique café in Oulu that combines a warm atmosphere, memorable experiences, and a compelling entrepreneurial story. Owner Rina Hirviniemi has been in the industry for many years and has run Café Kiikku for 15 years. She has built her career in catering,lunch cafés, and the restaurant business, including in Vaasa. However, the COVID-19 pandemic changed course, and now Kiikku has set out to develop something new.

This café, which operates partly in a greenhouse, is located in Oulu’s Ainola Park, right next to the Hupisaari Central Playground, and caters especially to families with children during the summer season. The intimate space, which seats about 30 guests, also makes it possible to host celebrations such as graduation parties, confirmation parties, and weddings.

However, the decision to purchase the barbecue tables wasn’t driven by a pressing business need, but rather by an idea that felt right from the very beginning.
““We didn’t really have any specific need—it was just a whim. We just thought it was a nice idea.” , Hirviniemi says. There were hardly any doubts about the decision; rather, the idea of working together and creating a new experience felt like a natural extension of the café’sspirit.

The barbecue tables were put into use in the middle of winter, and the response exceeded expectations. The opening event drew more than 50 participants, and the atmosphere was lively from the very beginning.
“Everyone loved it right away. A couple of work groups got excited about it immediately.” Soon , the barbecue evolved into its own concept, which was named Moonlight Barbecue.

Various themed events brought the tables to life: on Valentine’s Day, we grilled chicken skewers and corn; at Easter, we’ll be grilling lamb. In the winter, customers especially appreciated the warmth provided by the grill, which made spending time outdoors pleasant. At the same time, a new way of spending time at the caféemerged—not just sitting around, but doing things together.

The barbecue tables have significantly transformed the customer experience at Kiiku. Previously, the café was not open during the winter season and did not offer food, but now the barbecue enables a new kind of service and also supports the restaurant’s operations. The number of new customers has increased, and groups and tourists in particular have discovered the service. The concept has also generated interest on social media.

One of the most memorable moments was a group of British tourists who combined a soup lunch with a barbecue.
“They said the grill kept their feet nice and warm, too. It was a great place to chat and share stories.” Similar experiences have occurred time and again: barbecue tables create situations where people linger longer and share an experience together.

Perhaps the most significant change, however, isn’t directly related to sales, but rather to the atmosphere.
“The best part has been that complete strangers start chatting with each other. It creates a sense of togetherness.” The barbecue tables transform a visit to the caféfrom a passive experience into an active one and foster natural interaction among people.

Hirviniemi recommends SocialBBQ Grill Tables to anyone who wants to offer their customers something out of the ordinary. “This isn’t just a product—it’s an experience that brings people together.”