The factory was privatised after the country became independent again and moved away from the centre of the city. The buildings were empty for a long time, but they gained their first residents in Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and Linnalabor. The first place to grab a bite there was the restaurant F-hoone, which is still popular today.
By now Telliskivi Creative City has become a centre of creative businesses located in 10 old factory buildings that are decorated by big wall paintings and has a cosy bohemian feel to it.
There are 250 companies, almost 30 stores and a dozen places to eat in the Creative City. It also contains art galleries, performance institutions, band rehearsal spaces, a kindergarten and outdoor activities including a playground, outdoor galleries, summer terraces and many interesting events. A majority of the businesses in the Creative City are in the creative industries sector. Nearly 1500 people, a lot of them foreigners, have jobs in the City.
It is quite difficult to rent in the Creative City these days because it’s such a popular place with little free space. In addition, the operation and ethical code of the tenants have to align with the creative themes of the City which is why it has closed its gates to fast fashion and big corporations.