The GUM in Moscow-Russias most famous shopping mall. The site has been used for trading throughout history. By 1520 there was already a large stone arcade standing at this location. Fire destroyed the old Upper Trading Rows, as they became known, and the current building was completed in 1893. A joint project between architect Aleksander Pomerantsev and engineer Vladimir Shukov, its steel framework and glass roof were, at the time, on the cutting edge of technology, and gave GUM a certain resemblance to a large European station. It has an area to match and, at the end of the 19th Century, it was the largest shopping center in Europe and before 1917, it contained 1,200 stores. It was said that Nicholas II himself was spotted inside its stores for last minute gifts... ;) In 1928, GUM was closed by Stalin, who decided to use the building as the headquarters for officials but it was reopened in 1953 and became one of the most popular sites for the infamous Soviet lines/queues, which could at times extend all the way across Red Square. During Soviet days, the top floor was home to Section 100, a secret clothing store only open to the highest echelons of the party. Now ALL its stores are open to EVERYONE. It was privatized in the early 1990s. *On a personal note, my Aunt will be meeting, for the first time, a Moscow friend of mine, at the GUM tomorrow. The internet united two mommys who share similar interests, hopes, dreams and fears...separated only by an ocean..for now..:)
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 00:01:30 +0000
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