Olen kuullut saa taivaassa viinaa (I've heard they serve you booze in heaven)

Siellä kiljukin käy ilman hiivaa (Even the moonshine ferments without yeast)

Siellä krapula ei meitä piinaa (The dead need not suffer from hangovers)

Siellä enkelit housutta käy (The angels there don't wear any underwear)

During its 20-year existence, Restaurant Rattori-lupi, owned by Oulun Tekniikan Ylioppilaat Ry (Oulu Technology Students' Association), managed to operate at several locations. Teekkari (technical students) sing-along nights, jazz and rock jams, live music and the laid-back atmosphere ensured the restaurant’s lasting popularity. "Everyone spoke with everyone, even if they didn't know anyone there," said one of the guests on the vibe of the restaurant.

The first Rattori was quite pleasant. The queues were arranged in such a way that people stood on the stairs leading to the second floor. This allowed for constant observation of the people in line, assessing their state and politely whispering to someone, ‘Maybe come back tomorrow.’ There was hardly ever a need for confrontation; a discreet request to leave sufficed. - Jorma Karhumaa, the doorman of Rattori-lupi

The first Rattori operated in a wooden house, in the attic of Lidström's butcher's shop. The butcher's shop was located at the corner of Albertinkatu and Torikatu. During the day, school supplies and copies were sold on the busy upper floor of the butcher's shop and, at the end of the evening, the going was said to have been akin to the most notorious brothels of Soho. In the early evening, DJs played deep cuts of jazz and rock music and, in the evening, they spun the hottest bubble gum pop and chart toppers. In March 1973, Jazz 20 Ry in Oulu started its jam evenings, which went on to be highly popular. The price list at the bar counter also included a vomit cleaning fee of 10 Mk.

The second Rattori-lupi operated at street level in Kauppahotelli on Kirkkokatu from 1976 to 1981. Like the first iteration of Rattoria, the new building was constructed by the Teekkari folk as a joint voluntary effort. The original Rattori’s picturesque yet musty and cramped premises were a thing of the past, but Rattori's popularity and fame on a national scale remained. The fancier and more spacious new Rattori profiled itself more strictly as a rock-n-roll restaurant. The DJs did away with the chart toppers and focused more on spinning rock vinyls. Teekkari sing-along evenings, jams and live music remained beloved favourites. The cheap drinks and the customer-oriented music selection and atmosphere made it a most opportune environment for forming relationships.

The third iteration of Rattori operated at Asemakatu 32 from 1981 to 1990. With the new Rattori, the doorman duo of Jorma Karhumaa and Juha Oksanen gained something a legendary status.

Oksanen was with me during my military service, and that’s where I got to know him. Then, when we needed to hire an additional person for the last Rattori, I decided that if I had the choice, it would be Oksanen—no one else. He’s the kind of person who leaves a lasting impression on everyone. It was a successful decision. When many students came to the door, the first thing they would ask me was, ‘Are you Oksanen?’ I’d reply, ‘No, I’m the smaller one.’ But yes, Oksanen is bigger than me. For some reason, he was already famous to many before they even stepped inside for the first time. – Jorma Karhumaa, the doorman of Rattori-lupi

Kari Lisko, a loyal customer if there ever was one, acted as the third, unofficial doorman of the restaurant. Kari was a disabled music lover. His role also included opening the dance floor as the customers were still trying to find their courage from the bottom of their pints.

Kari immediately started collecting bottles and pints there. I told Kari right away, ‘Listen, you’re a gentleman; gentlemen don’t do that. Gentlemen supervise while the workers do the work. You’re a baron—don’t touch anything, just oversee.’ And Kari took the advice. After that, he was the baron. He adapted well to that baron role and became a central character in the whole bar. – Jorma Karhumaa, the doorman of Rattori-lupi

For the queue to wrap along the length of the building was more of a rule than an exception for the new Rattori, and foreign performers began appearing alongside domestic ones. Johnny Thunders’ performance left glass shards on the floor, a bent bar counter and hanging roof planks in its wake. After the human tornado, the doormen couldn't help but shake their heads in disbelief.

Even today, the Teekkari procession stops in front of the three Rattori-lupis, taking off their hats in a moment of silence as the Teekkari horns sound a melancholy tune.

A fourth Rattori-lupi was opened, but only in name. The original spirit was simply not there and, after a short while, the restaurant changed its name.

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Sources:

Suomi24 forum. Username “Möttönen”. 16.2.2024.https://keskustelu.suomi24.fi/t/1341739/oulun-rattori-lupi

Kaleva: Rattori-lupin talo väistyi uuden tieltä – Kerro meille millaisia muistoja sinulla on legendaarisesta Rattorista. https://www.kaleva.fi/rattori-lupin-talo-vaistyi-uuden-tielta-kerro-meil/1906568

Oulu City Library. 2023. Pohjoista musiikkia. www.ouka.fi/oulu/pohjoista-musiikkia/klubit-ja-ravintolat

Oulu-lehti 13.6.1968, 25.5.1969, 25.1.1973, 26.9.1974, 4.2.1975, 5.3.1981, 9.11.1981 Oulun ylioppilaslehti 27.2.1970, 15.5.1970, 18.3.1976, 6.2.1981. Kaleva 6.3.1964 Rättilä, Markku. Kaleva 15.1.2002 Interview: Karjalainen, Hannu.

Himanka, Tapani, Oululaisia teekkariperinteitä, Wappukulkue https://www.oty.fi/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/teksuutimet_2018_2.pdf

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Photo: Kalevan archive. Dr. Feelgood at Rattori-lupi 23.3.1986.

Video: 500Kg Lihaa, ''Etkös Ole Ihmisparka'', 1982, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCIRHS8xb-s