One of the largest department stores in Europe, the doors of which overlook the main square of the country, are visited not only by guests walking in the very heart of Moscow, but also by all those who seek to get aesthetic pleasure from shopping. The length of the facade of GUM, trimmed with granite and marble, is 242 m, and the building itself occupies an entire block. The ancient interiors preserved from the end of the 19th century, decorated with spectacular arched ceilings made of transparent glass and strong metal, evoke an irresistible desire in every visitor to spend more than originally planned time in this place.
History
It was possible to take part in the lively trade on the square in the center of the capital 6 centuries ago: trade shops lined up here in orderly rows, and loud voices of merchants invited people passing by to buy their goods. By the end of the 19th century, it was decided to reorganize street trading, and according to the project of the famous architect Pomerantsev A.N. the new building of the Department Store was built, which included three spacious galleries under a large glass dome.
The area of the new department store was divided into 322 small stores, where residents and guests of Moscow could buy the necessary food, clothing, shoes, leather goods and other goods. Special price tags were used for the first time in new shopping malls under a glass dome, and it was also here that a book appeared for the first time, where customers made their complaints and suggestions.
In addition to a variety of shops, the beautifully decorated interiors included a barber shop, a post office, a bank and a restaurant. Almost immediately after its opening, GUM turned into a place where everyone wanted to go to make the necessary purchases or just relax with whole families. After the revolution, the GUM building housed the bureaucratic apparatus, and only in the 50s of the XX century it was decided to revive the trading activities in the constructed galleries. In 1953, the largest shopping center at that time on the territory of Russia was opened here, with a short and easily remembered name GUM.
State Department Store Today
Like many years ago, today GUM opens its doors to tens of thousands of tourists and residents of the capital. The first floor of the department store houses boutiques of world famous brands such as: Gucci, Prada, Bosco, Escada, Pinko. On this floor you can visit “Gastronome No. 1”, where they tried to preserve the spirit of the Soviet era. Here you can buy pickled herring and sprat in large jars, choose the freshest salmon caviar from a separate counter, buy freshly baked bread and enjoy sweets brought from different parts of the world.
On the second and third floors there are clothing and footwear shops of lesser-known brands, ateliers, beauty salons and cosmetology centers. On the 3rd floor there is the famous "Dining Room - 57" and the cafe "Molodezhnoe", the owners of which are trying to recreate the atmosphere of the bygone Soviet era, which visitors will be reminded of by delicious herring under a fur coat, dried fruit compote and a delicacy loved by adults and children: ice cream for every taste ... Thousands of people of different professions, statuses and material well-being visit GUM every day. In the showroom of the department store, fashion shows of collections and openings dedicated to a particular theme are periodically held, and everyone can witness these spectacles.
In addition to its main purpose, which GUM has managed to preserve to this day, remaining the main and very beautiful shopping center in the very center of the capital, the department store is an excellent place where you can have a pleasant and good day off with family and friends. Here you can have a delicious and plentiful lunch, watch a recently released film, enjoy your favorite ice cream and take many memorable photos.
The greatness of the building leaves no one indifferent, and the world-famous romantic bridges connecting the main parts of the building will make a walk through GUM unforgettable. During the holidays, GUM is elegantly decorated both inside and outside. When New Years and Christmas are approaching, the department store becomes especially beautiful and elegant, attracting a huge number of visitors these days.
Cinema hall
Visitors to GUM can have a good rest by watching a good movie in the cinema located on its territory. The cinema is represented by three cozy halls: a large one with comfortable soft armchairs for 70 seats, a children's room with comfortable poufs that can take any given shape for 20 seats, and a VIP hall with cozy sofas for 16 seats. In the VIP room, guests will be invited to use a soft blanket in the cool season and the services of the bar, which is located in the cinema hall. The cinema has fully preserved the architecture of the building: exquisite stucco moldings are made in the style of the early 20th century.
Elegant crystal chandeliers adorn the high ceilings. Crystal jewelry was treated with a special coating in order to avoid the clinking of crystal at the time of the drops in sound frequencies. During premieres, the windows of the chamber cinema are covered with beautiful multi-layered curtains made of heavy velvet. Their inner surface is made of special fire-resistant textiles, the outer layer of curtains gives the cinema a special solemnity and creates a festive atmosphere.
How to get there and opening hours
Due to the peculiarity of the location of the GUM, it is not advised to get there by personal transport. The center of the capital is often congested with traffic, which makes it more likely to spend a large amount of valuable time in traffic jams for hours. The best mode of transport by which you can get to GUM is considered to be public. The nearest metro stations are Okhotny Ryad, Ploshchad Revolyutsii and Teatralnaya. Bus number 25 and trolleybus number 37 stop near the department store. The department store opens daily at 10 am and works until 22-00 seven days a week.
