Have you ever noticed that on Arbat, after house number 1, there is immediately house number 9? That is how things stand now. After the long house numbered one, the ninth follows right away. This house, which used to be the seventh, deserves special attention despite its modest appearance.

In the late 19th century, one of the first private libraries in the city opened here, but in 1875, it was closed by the police due to its unreliability. The reason was the abundance of political literature: Ogariev, Ryleev, and Chernyshevsky with his eternal questions of "what to do and who is to blame?"

About a quarter of a century later, in 1906, various proletarian unions, such as the "Union of Textile Workers" and other professional organizations, settled here, but soon they moved out.

As they say, a holy place is never empty, especially on the main street of Moscow. A cinema called "Parizyen" appeared here, which became famous due to the visit of Leo Tolstoy. Although he did not approve of cinema, the cinema itself became renowned.

After the revolution, the building transformed into the "Literary Mansion." During that hungry time, the demand for spiritual food was high, and literary cafes multiplied. However, it was here that Sergey Yesenin first read his poem "Pugachev," and other contemporary poets often visited this place.

But nothing lasts forever, especially in the era of revolutions. The "Literary Mansion" closed down. In 1920-22, it housed Griboedov's workshop, and then an experimental theater led by Foregger, where Igor Ilyinsky debuted, and Eisenstein created his first design for a buffoon show.

Today, this building houses the National Cultural Center of Ukraine, commercial organizations, and a restaurant.