A few months ago, I wrote about the former Warsaw Railway Station building, which has recently been converted into the largest food mall in our country. Today, we’ll look at another example of repurposing old buildings for modern needs. This time, I’ll tell you about the former Vasileostrovsky Market complex, located on the island of the same name in St. Petersburg.
A Bit of History
As early as 1703, immediately after the founding of St. Petersburg, a ship from the Netherlands arrived in the city, bringing goods for sale, including building materials and food. It was then that the first spontaneous market complexes began to appear on the streets. Over time, the main commercial artery became Sadovaya Street. Interestingly, under Peter I, a rule was established: before noon, goods had to be sold at fixed prices, while in the afternoon, prices were unregulated.
Market areas in this part of Vasilevsky Island appeared as early as 1748, when wooden market stalls were set up here. Fifteen years later, this complex was completely destroyed by a fire. In 1789–1790, a new stone trading building was erected in its place. The market was named Andreevsky, after the nearby Cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called. Later, this market complex underwent several reconstructions and expansions. One such reconstruction led to the creation of the small Vasileostrovsky Market in the eastern part of the complex, which was designed as a platform for trading collective farm products.
The modern Vasileostrovsky Market building was constructed in 1959, with a design by M. Y. Klyomentov. Unlike many of the buildings I write about, the Vasileostrovsky Market complex is not considered a cultural heritage site, and it cannot be said that its design features any unique or unusual elements. Nevertheless, today, this complex has become a popular spot for many locals and visitors to the city.
In 2019, another renovation of the Vasileostrovsky Market was completed, and now over 30 food establishments operate there. Visitors to this gastronomic space can try dishes from Middle Eastern, Italian, Vietnamese, Caucasian, Japanese, and other cuisines.
How to Get There
The market is located at 16/14b Bolshoy Prospect of Vasileostrovsky Island. According to the complex’s website, it is open from 11 AM to 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 11 AM to 10 PM on other days.
The nearest metro station is "Vasileostrovskaya," which is about an 8-minute walk from the market. There are several interesting landmarks in the area. For example, you can visit the L. N. Benois House or Repin Street, known as the narrowest passage in St. Petersburg.
Have a nice trip!
