TSUM

The Central Universal Store on Petrovka is not just a place for shopping, but a true monument to the history of Russian trade. The Gothic building with turrets and pointed windows has witnessed the change of eras, revolutions, and economic transformations, while maintaining its status as one of the capital’s main department stores.

The Beginning of the Story: From Scottish Entrepreneurs to Moscow Department Store

The history of the famous department store began in the mid-nineteenth century with two Scottish businessmen. Andrew Muir and Archibald Merrilees founded a company in St. Petersburg for the wholesale of British fabrics, naming it after their own surnames. Almost three decades later, in 1885, the entrepreneurs opened a branded store in the center of Moscow.

Location and the First Years of Operation

The location for the trading house was chosen strategically — the three-story building was located near the Bolshoi Theater and the city’s main shopping artery, Kuznetsky Most Street. Initially, the assortment included ladies’ hats, gloves, handbags, and scarves, but thanks to the high quality of goods and polite service, the store quickly gained popularity among Muscovites.

Transformation into a Department Store

Successful trading allowed the owners to gradually expand the assortment. A few years later, the store already had about twenty departments, and by the end of the century their number reached fifty. The trading house became Moscow’s first department store, where one could buy almost everything needed:

• dishware and interior items
• perfumes and cosmetics
• women’s and men’s clothing
• shoes and accessories
• children’s toys
• stationery

Innovations in Trade: European Standards in Pre-Revolutionary Moscow

The department store owners were among the first in the Russian Empire to introduce progressive trading methods borrowed from Europe. These innovations fundamentally changed the relationship between sellers and buyers.

Principles of Service Revolutionary for Russia

Fixed prices became the main difference from traditional market trading. Each item had a tag with its price, eliminating the need to haggle. In addition, the store offered services that seemed like a real miracle to Muscovites:

• the ability to exchange or return unsuitable goods
• free delivery of purchases around the city by special errand boys
• mail delivery of orders to any point in Russia
• seasonal sales with significant discounts
• quarterly catalogs with fabric samples

Catalogs and Mail-Order Trade

The company regularly published product catalogs and mailed them to everyone who wished. Customers could study the assortment, choose the items they liked, and place an order — the principle was reminiscent of modern online stores. For customers from the European part of Russia, delivery was completely free, making shopping even more attractive.

Famous Visitors and Cultural Significance

The trading house attracted not only ordinary citizens, but also representatives of the creative intelligentsia. One of the regular visitors was Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, who was famous for his impeccable taste and love of quality clothing. The writer preferred expensive ties and perfumes, and spent a significant part of his fees on updating his wardrobe. Chekhov’s attachment to the department store was so strong that he jokingly named two puppies at his Melikhovo estate Muir and Merrilees. This fact eloquently testifies to the place the trading house occupied in the life of the Moscow intelligentsia.

Fires and Construction of the New Building

Tragic Events at the Turn of the Century

In 1900, the department store was completely destroyed by fire. After this disaster, the store temporarily moved to the Khomyakov apartment building on the corner of Petrovka and Kuznetsky Most. However, the owners decided to build a new, more modern and safe building.

Roman Klein’s Architectural Masterpiece

Construction began in 1906 under the direction of one of the most talented architects of the time — Roman Klein. The famous engineer Vladimir Shukhov worked on the engineering part of the project. The construction of the seven-story Neo-Gothic building took almost two and a half years and cost one and a half million rubles — a colossal sum for those times. The new building opened in 1908 and became a real sensation. It was the first building in Moscow to use reinforced concrete structures, similar to those used in the construction of New York skyscrapers.

Technical Innovations That Scared Muscovites

The interior of the department store amazed contemporaries with unprecedented technical solutions:

• revolving entrance doors, which Muscovites nicknamed “traps” because many people got stuck in them
• electric elevators, whose operating principle was incomprehensible to most visitors
• information and inquiry desks
• rest rooms for shoppers

The revolving doors were soon dismantled because citizens could not get used to them. However, despite initial fears, Muscovites quickly appreciated the convenience and comfort of the new department store.

The Soviet Period: Nationalization and Transformation

Revolution and Change of Owners

After the revolutionary events of 1917, the store was nationalized and passed into state ownership. In 1922, the building was occupied by the Soviet trading organization “Mostorg”, and soon the department store received a new name — TSUM (Central Universal Store). This name has survived to this day, although Muscovites continued to call it by its pre-revolutionary name out of habit for a long time. Even Mikhail Bulgakov in the novella “Heart of a Dog”, set in the mid-1920s, mentions the store under its old name — Professor Preobrazhensky asks the housekeeper to go to Muir for a collar.

Wartime and Post-War Years

During the Great Patriotic War, the department store continued to operate, albeit in a modified format. The upper floors housed soldiers’ barracks, while the lower levels were used for ration-card trading. In 1944, TSUM became the first Moscow store to abolish ration cards and start selling goods at commercial prices. In the post-war decades, the department store became a place where Muscovites and visitors to the capital came for scarce goods:

• French perfumes
• Yugoslav and Finnish shoes
• Japanese jackets
• other coveted imports

Innovations of the 1950s

In 1955, TSUM made another revolution in Soviet trade — the usual counters disappeared from the store and a self-service system appeared. Goods moved from shelves behind the seller into the sales floor, where customers could choose them themselves. Cash registers also moved out of separate booths and were placed directly on the counters.

Expansion in Soviet Times

In the 1970s, the department store’s retail space increased significantly. In 1976, a new six-story building in the modernist style was erected next to the historic building according to the design of architect A. A. Kazakov. This structure contrasted with the Neo-Gothic appearance of the main building with its austerity and laconic forms, but at the same time fit organically into the architectural ensemble of central Moscow.

TSUM in the 21st Century: Transformation into a Luxury Brand Center

Reconstruction and Modernization

In the mid-1990s, a large-scale reconstruction of the department store began. The retail premises were expanded and modernized, the area increased by thirty thousand square meters. The interiors were adapted to modern retail standards while preserving the historic atmosphere. In the early 2000s, TSUM passed into private ownership, which led to a new stage of development. In 2008, an additional building of dark gray granite was built next to the main building, imitating the historic part of the department store. The total area of the store increased almost two and a half times — three buildings now occupy an entire block.

Current Assortment and Positioning

Today, Moscow’s TSUM specializes in selling premium global brands. The assortment features more than one and a half thousand brands of clothing, footwear, and accessories. Among them are such famous fashion houses as:

• Dolce & Gabbana
• Jimmy Choo
• Valentino
• Saint Laurent
• Tom Ford
• Louis Vuitton
• Alexander McQueen
• Yves Saint Laurent

Structure of the Modern Department Store

The seven floors of TSUM are organized thematically:

1. First floor — perfumes, cosmetics, jewelry, leather goods, Apple store
2. Second floor — men’s clothing and shoes
3. Third floor — wide range of women’s clothing
4. Fourth floor — children’s goods, youth clothing, multibrand zone, lingerie
5. Fifth floor — home and travel goods, panoramic restaurant

Unique Services and Service

Modern TSUM offers customers a wide range of additional services that turn shopping into a comfortable and enjoyable experience:

Personal Shopping

Wealthy customers can use the services of a personal stylist who will help select a wardrobe taking into account individual preferences. Special VIP fitting rooms are provided.

Product Personalization

Customers have access to hand and machine embroidery services. Logos, initials, or monograms can be applied to almost any wardrobe item, from ties to jackets.

Tailoring Atelier and Made-to-Measure

Visitors can order alterations of purchased items or bespoke tailoring according to individual measurements.

Additional Services

• dry cleaning
• shoe repair
• gift wrapping
• personal ordering of goods by label photo
• free VIP-class taxi for purchases over 100,000 rubles

Cultural Life of the Department Store

TSUM is not only a shopping center, but also a venue for cultural events. The department store regularly hosts:

• fashion shows and premieres of new collections
• master classes by leading stylists
• press conferences
• exhibitions of contemporary artists
• charity events

Many world-class designers personally visit TSUM to present their collections to the Russian public. In 2017, a grand celebration was held to mark the 110th anniversary of the store’s reopening after the fire. The corridors were decorated with neon pyramids and ice sculptures, and guests were greeted with live music and fashion performances.

Architectural Features

Main Building in Neo-Gothic Style

The facades of the historic building are executed in the spirit of English Neo-Gothic. Tall pointed windows, sharp crenellations on the roof, and the characteristic rose window create a recognizable silhouette that has become one of the calling cards of central Moscow.

Contrast of Eras

The 1970s building is in the modernist style and deliberately contrasts with the Gothic appearance of the main building. Strict geometric forms and lack of decoration reflect the aesthetics of Soviet architecture of that period. The building from the 2000s is made of dark gray granite and stylistically echoes the historic building, creating a harmonious architectural ensemble.

How to Get to TSUM

The department store is located at: Moscow, Petrovka Street, 2. Thanks to its central location, you can get there in various ways.

Metro

Several Moscow metro stations are within walking distance:

• “Kuznetsky Most” (purple line) — 259 meters
• “Teatralnaya” (green line) — 285 meters
• “Lubyanka” (red line) — 441 meters
• “Okhotny Ryad” (red line) — 482 meters
• “Ploshchad Revolyutsii”
• “Kitay-gorod”

Surface Transport

Numerous bus routes stop near the department store on Teatralnaya Square:

• main routes: M2, M3, M6, M7, M9, M40
• night routes: H1, H2, H10, H11, H12, H14
• express: E10, E30

Car and Parking

Neglinnaya Street, Petrovka, and Teatralny Proezd adjoin TSUM. There is a paid underground parking. However, loyalty card holders can receive free parking hours:

• for purchases from 3,000 rubles — 3 hours free
• for purchases over 100,000 rubles — free parking all day

The parking ticket must be validated at the checkout when paying for goods.

Opening Hours

The department store is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00. On holidays the schedule may change — before the New Year, opening hours are usually extended. Current information is recommended to check on the official website. The underground parking operates according to the following schedule:

• entry: from 10:00 to 21:30
• exit for shoppers: until 22:00
• exit for restaurant guests: until 23:30

Online Store

Since 2011, TSUM has had its own online store featuring hundreds of clothing, footwear, and accessory brands. Managers work around the clock and help place orders, choose gifts, and inform about current promotions. Delivery in Moscow is carried out by the department store’s courier service; to Russia and CIS countries — by international courier companies Pony Express and DHL.

Interesting Facts about TSUM

Errand boys in pre-revolutionary times. In Russia, it was not customary to carry purchases home yourself. The department store employed young assistants who not only delivered goods, but also cleaned and packed. Pioneer in European standards. The store owners were among the first in the country to introduce fixed prices and hold regular sales. The rule “the customer is always right” applied, allowing easy return or exchange of unsuitable goods. Digital display windows. In March 2017, digital screens were installed on the first-floor windows facing Kuznetsky Most to show advertising and fashion shows. Support for Russian designers. TSUM regularly organizes exhibitions of young Russian designers, contributing to the development of the Russian fashion industry. European prices. In 2015, the department store was the first to set prices for imported brands comparable to European ones, which led to an increase in the number of customers and profit.

Conclusion

Moscow’s TSUM has come a long way from a Scottish merchants’ shop to one of Russia’s largest shopping centers. Despite revolutions, wars, economic crises, and changes in political systems, the department store has retained its position and continues to be a symbol of quality shopping and impeccable service. Today TSUM is not only a place to shop, but also an important landmark of the capital, attracting more than a million tourists annually. The Gothic building on Petrovka holds many stories and continues to write new pages in the chronicle of Moscow trade. You can learn about the rich history of the department store during sightseeing tours of central Moscow with experienced guides.