Friends, today we are heading to Nevsky Prospect in St. Petersburg to admire the interiors of the Eliseyev Emporium, one of the city's most famous shopping venues. The store is remarkable not only for its history but also for its unique building, constructed at the very beginning of the 20th century.
The Building of the Eliseyev Brothers' Trading House: A History of Its Construction
Pyotr Eliseev, the founder of the famous merchant dynasty, arrived in St. Petersburg in 1813. According to one legend, the future entrepreneur received financial support for his move to the capital from Count Sheremetev. The story claims that Eliseev, who was the nobleman’s gardener, earned his freedom and a small sum of money by procuring fresh strawberries for the count’s Christmas table.
However, St. Petersburg historians argue that the strawberry story is pure fiction. Regardless of its authenticity, Pyotr Eliseev successfully settled in St. Petersburg and established a thriving business. The first Eliseyev store was located in the Kotomin House at 18 Nevsky Prospect.
Pyotr Eliseev passed away in 1825. His widow continued the family business, and later, it was inherited by their children. In 1857, Eliseev’s sons founded the trading company "Eliseyev Brothers." The firm specialized in selling wine, fruit, and groceries.
At the end of the 19th century, the merchants purchased a plot on Nevsky Prospect. At that time, the site was occupied by a building housing a shop, a pawnshop, and a restaurant. The new project for the trading house was designed by architect Gavriil Baranovsky, who had already completed several commissions for the Eliseev family, including two tenement houses and the renovation of a mansion on Birzhevaya Liniya.
The trading house was built between 1902 and 1903. The first floor housed the retail space and storage rooms, while the second floor featured a concert hall, with a casino located on the upper levels. Today, the former concert hall is home to the St. Petersburg Comedy Theatre named after N. P. Akimov.
The most striking feature of the building's facade on Nevsky Prospect is its massive glass arch facing the city's main avenue. St. Petersburg travel guides often highlight the building’s deliberately commercial design, though its unusual appearance has long become familiar to locals.
During the Soviet era, the store was officially known as the "Central Gastronome." Despite the name change, residents continued to refer to it as the Eliseyev Emporium. In 1993, the landmark regained its historical name, following extensive restoration work carried out a few years earlier.
The modern chapter of the Eliseyev Emporium began in 2012 when the interiors of the former trading house were restored based on historical photographs and the original sketches by the Eliseyev family. Today, visitors can browse its selection of goods, dine at one of its restaurants, or take a guided tour of the building.
How to Get There by Metro
The store is located at 56 Nevsky Prospect. The nearest metro station is the transfer hub between Nevsky Prospect and Gostiny Dvor. From the station exit, it takes about three minutes to walk to the historic trading house.
Continuing my series on St. Petersburg’s historic buildings, I invite you to explore the Mertens House, another architectural gem on Nevsky Prospect.
Have a nice trip!
