State Department Store (GUM)

The State Department Store on Red Square is a unique combination of a shopping complex and an architectural monument of federal significance. Located in the very heart of the capital, next to the Kremlin and the mausoleum, GUM attracts millions of visitors thanks to its rich history, magnificent architecture and variety of stores.

History of the Creation of the Legendary Store

The roots of the shopping complex go back to the era of Catherine the Great, when numerous stalls and trading booths stood on the site of the modern building. The idea of creating a single trading space arose at the end of the eighteenth century.

First Designs and Construction

The Italian architect Giacomo Quarenghi developed the initial design of the shopping center in the classical style. However, it was not possible to fully implement this vision because of the haste of construction and the destruction during the war of 1812. After the end of hostilities, reconstruction was carried out by another Italian architect, Osip Bove, but the result still remained far from the original concept. In 1869, the city authorities decided on a large-scale reconstruction of the shopping arcades. The main problem was the negotiations with the owners of almost six hundred stalls. The merchants created their own commission and began lengthy talks with the authorities, which dragged on for two decades.

Breakthrough in the Implementation of the Project

The situation changed after the merchant Nikolai Alekseyev was appointed head of Moscow in 1885. The new administrator declared the arcades unsafe, temporarily closed them and relocated the stalls. The drop in profits forced the merchants to accept the government's terms. In 1888, a joint-stock company was created, in which the owners received shares in proportion to the value of their property. A closed competition was announced for the design of the new building, with more than twenty architects taking part. The winner of the competition was Alexander Pomerantsev. The foundation was laid in 1889, and the grand opening took place four years later. The building received beautiful decoration in the Neo-Russian style, with openwork glass roofs and its own power plant.

The Twentieth Century: Trials and Revival

Revolutionary Upheavals

After the October Revolution, trade was halted. State institutions moved into the building, some premises were turned into warehouses, and the upper floors were given over to communal apartments. In 1921, Vladimir Lenin ordered trade to be resumed, but in the 1930s Joseph Stalin closed the store again. The building was several times under threat of demolition. In 1935 and 1947 it was planned to build a high-rise on its site, but these plans were never implemented.

Post-war Revival

On May 9, 1945, it was from the department store building that Yuri Levitan announced Germany's capitulation. After Stalin's death in March 1953, the new government decided to carry out a reconstruction. In December of the same year, the store reopened to customers, becoming a symbol of the Khrushchev Thaw.

Architectural Features

The building occupies an entire block of Kitay-Gorod and includes sixteen buildings connected by gallery-passages. Its length along the Kremlin wall is about two hundred and fifty meters. The complex is built in the Neo-Russian style and forms a single ensemble with the State Historical Museum.

Shukhov’s Glass Skies

The main architectural highlight is the delicate glass roofs, created by the famous engineer Vladimir Shukhov. More than fifty thousand poods of metal were used to construct the unique roof. The diameter of the structure is fourteen meters. Originally, the transparent ceiling served the practical function of natural lighting; today it is a striking decorative element and a calling card of the department store. In the evenings, thousands of lights adorn the facade of the building, turning the shopping center into a fairytale palace.

Highlights of the Modern GUM

Gastronom Number One

The legendary store opened in 1953 and operated until 1990. Marble counters with a rich assortment faced Red Square. Muscovites traditionally did their holiday shopping here for major celebrations. The grocery store got a second life in 2008. The recreated Soviet interior with historical names of departments attracts visitors with the atmosphere of a bygone era. Here you can buy quality products that will satisfy even the most demanding gourmets.

Cinema Hall with a Historical Interior

The cinema is located in a room with early twentieth-century stucco, crystal chandeliers and huge windows overlooking Vetoshny Lane. During screenings the windows are covered with velvet curtains. The three halls accommodate different numbers of spectators:

• The large hall has seventy seats
• The children's hall offers twenty seats
• The VIP hall accommodates sixteen people

The repertoire includes new film releases, classic movies and broadcasts of theatrical performances. The buffet is styled as a Soviet theater café, where instead of the usual popcorn they offer sandwiches, pies, lemonade and champagne.

Historic Restroom

The luxurious restroom has been recreated from archival photographs and drawings. Visitors are greeted by a foyer with comfortable sofas, marble wall finishes, mirrors in carved frames and Murano glass light fixtures. The floors are covered with carpets. The sanitary fittings in the women's rooms are done in gold tones, in the men's — in silver. Instead of paper towels, cotton ones are used. Visitors can use all hygiene accessories, including the option to take a shower for an additional fee.

Shopping Opportunities

On three floors along three lines there are more than two hundred shops, boutiques and salons. Well-known Russian and international brands of clothing, footwear and accessories are represented. There are numerous children's goods stores. Within the complex there are:

• A pharmacy and a bank branch
• Photo services and an order desk
• Restaurants and cafés with various cuisines
• Cafeteria Number Fifty-Seven with self-service
• Café Festivalnoe with an international menu

More than thirty thousand people visit the department store every day. Holders of family cards receive discounts from five to fifteen percent in some salons.

Cultural Life

Since the mid-2000s, a fountain has been operating in the center of the department store — almost a contemporary of the Upper Trading Rows. This is a popular meeting place for visitors. In winter, the GUM skating rink opens on Red Square, reviving the tradition of winter festivities. Matches involving celebrities and performances by artists are held here, creating a festive atmosphere. In the restored Demonstration Hall, cultural events, exhibitions and presentations are regularly held. The department store organizes tours where guides talk about the history of the complex, its illustrious visitors and the architectural secrets of the building.

Practical Information for Visitors

Address and Opening Hours

The department store is located at: Red Square, Building 3. The complex is open daily from ten in the morning to ten in the evening.

How to Get There

Metro: the nearest stations are Okhotny Ryad on the red line, Teatralnaya on the green line and Ploshchad Revolyutsii on the blue line. It is a few minutes' walk from them to the department store. You can also walk from Kitay-Gorod station on the purple line, seeing Zaryadye Park and St. Basil's Cathedral along the way. Bus: the Krasnaya Ploshchad stop is less than five hundred meters from the department store. Another option is the Metro Okhotny Ryad stop on Tverskaya Street. Car: access is possible via the main city highways — Tverskaya Street, Bolshaya Yakimanka and Novy Arbat.

Parking

For visitors there is a nine-storey guarded parking facility on Ilyinka, 3/8. It is open from eight in the morning to eleven in the evening. The cost is specified on the official website. Valet parking service is available. There is also a public paid parking lot nearby.

Conclusion

Today the main department store is much more than a shopping venue. It is an architectural monument of federal significance that preserves the country's history within its walls. The building, constructed at the end of the nineteenth century, has survived revolutions, wars and threats of demolition and has been reborn as a symbol of the Russian capital. Visitors can enjoy shopping in numerous stores, immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the past in themed cafés and the gastronom, watch a film in the historic cinema hall or simply admire the magnificent architecture. Shukhov's lace-like glass skies, marble interiors and evening illumination make GUM one of the main attractions of Moscow. Its location in the very heart of the capital, on Red Square next to the Kremlin, turns a visit to the department store into an unforgettable journey through the history of Russia. Here the past blends seamlessly with the present, creating a unique space for shopping, relaxation and cultural leisure.