The "Eliseev Merchants' Store" is a majestic building in the center of St. Petersburg, located at the corner of Malaya Sadovaya Street and Nevsky Prospect, opposite the Catherine Garden and the Alexandrinsky Theater. Here, one can not only enjoy rare delicacies but also immerse themselves in the atmosphere of Tsarist Russia.

The history of the Eliseev dynasty begins in 1813, when Pyotr Eliseevich Kasatkin, a native of the Yaroslavl province, arrived in St. Petersburg as a trading peasant. He took the surname Eliseev in honor of his father, and thus all his descendants were named. Pyotr opened his first store at the corner of Bolshaya Morskaya Street and Nevsky Prospect. His success was based on selling exclusive goods, such as exotic fruits and wines, which he personally sourced from Europe.

After Pyotr's death in 1825, his business was continued by his widow Maria Gavrilovna and brother Grigory. By 1839, they had entered the 1st Guild of Merchants. Pyotr's three sons also contributed to the development of the business. By 1843, the firm's capital reached 8 million rubles. In 1857, the family opened the "Brothers Eliseev" Trading House and began their own production, including the famous wines.

After the death of Stepan Petrovich in 1879, the firm was led by Grigory Petrovich and his sons. In 1892, after their father's death, the brothers divided responsibilities: Alexander took care of finances, while Grigory continued to develop the trading house. In 1903, Grigory Grigoryevich opened a large store on Nevsky Prospect. By 1913, it was a trading empire with branches in major cities and abroad.

After the revolution, the store was renamed "Gastronom No. 1," and the Eliseev family left the country. During the war, the store became a special distributor for the elite. After the war, it reopened, offering delicacies for the party elite.

There is a myth that the Eliseevs were connected to the Sheremetevs, but this is not true. There are also rumors that Count Sheremetev provided Pyotr with startup capital for delivering winter strawberries, but this is unconfirmed.

The store on Nevsky was built specifically for trade. The architect was Gavriil Baranovsky. The building stands out for its Art Nouveau style and the use of expensive materials. The interior features stained glass and electric lighting, which was innovative for that time.

Today, the store offers elite products and souvenirs. On the second floor, there is the "Mezzanine" restaurant, and on the ground floor, "Warehouse No. 5." The theater hall on the second floor belongs to the Akimov Academic Comedy Theater.

You can reach the store by metro to the "Gostiny Dvor" station or by buses and trolleybuses that run along Nevsky Prospect.