Friends, today we are going on another walk through the amazing Saint Petersburg. This time, I would like to introduce you to the history of the F. L. Mertens Trading House building, located on Nevsky Prospect. In my opinion, it is one of the most memorable buildings on the main tourist avenue of the city on the Neva River.
How to Get There by Metro
The address of the former trading house is Nevsky Prospect, 21. Not far from here, you will find the "Admiralteyskaya" metro station and the interchange hub "Gostiny Dvor" — "Nevsky Prospect."
The F. L. Mertens Trading House is a historic name of the building, and today you will not find this organization in the list of tenants or owners. According to online maps, the premises are now occupied by a clothing store, a restaurant, a travel agency, and other companies.
A Bit of History
It is known that buildings on the plot where the majestic building of the former trading house now stands date back to the first half of the 18th century. The land changed owners several times, and the buildings were repeatedly reconstructed. In the 1870s, the property was acquired by the merchant Mertens. A Mertens flagship store was opened in the building. The family's main business was the tailoring and sale of fur products.
The building that we recognize today was constructed in 1911-1912. The architect was M. S. Lyalevich. The architect designed nearly twenty buildings in Saint Petersburg.
During the Mertens' time, besides the store, the building housed workshops and storage rooms. The business was quite successful; I have read that the fur products of the company were worn not only by the artistic bohemia of Saint Petersburg but also by members of the imperial family.
In the post-revolutionary period, various organizations with unusual names occupied the building: "Lenlegpromsnab," "Lenshveysbyt," "Glavuglesbyt." Before the beginning of World War II, the building housed the first Fashion House in the Soviet Union.
The main distinguishing feature of the Trading House is its monumental three-arch facade with huge arched windows. It is no surprise that the spacious and bright clothing stores occupy the premises of the trading house today. In the first decade of the 21st century, a well-known Zara store opened here. I still remember the long queues that formed during the COVID restrictions. Today, the retail halls feature collections from another clothing brand, but despite all these changes, the Mertens house has been serving its primary function for over a hundred years and remains one of the most recognizable and well-known commercial buildings in our city.
Have a nice trip!
