The male and female commercial schools, as well as the Commercial Institute, located in Zamoskvorechye between Stryemyannyy Lane and Zatsepa Street, were among the most renowned educational institutions in pre-revolutionary Moscow. These establishments were founded by the Moscow Society for the Promotion of Commercial Education, created in 1897 at the initiative of the famous Moscow merchant Alexei Semyonovich Vishnyakov. He played a significant role in the development of vocational education in the fields of economics and commerce, which flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Society aimed to create a multi-level system of commercial education. Initially, trade (accounting) courses were opened, and in the early 1900s, male and female commercial schools were established, providing full secondary vocational education.

For the Male Commercial School named after Tsarevich Alexei, a new building in the neoclassical style was constructed in 1903-1904, designed by architect Alexander Zelenko. Soon after, a building for the Female Commercial School was built nearby at the corner of Zatsepa Street and Strochenovsky Lane, along with the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "The Seeking of the Lost," designed by architect Nikolai Shevyakov. Both buildings were executed in the neo-Russian style, adorned with stucco and majolica tiles. In 1909, a Preparatory Classes building was added to the female school, also designed by Zelenko. During the Soviet era, the female school building was expanded, and the church was closed and repurposed for educational needs.

In 1903, the Society established Commercial Courses, which became Higher Commercial Courses in 1906. This was the next level of vocational education, admitting graduates from secondary educational institutions, primarily commercial schools. The courses were intended to meet the public demand for educated and scientifically trained specialists capable of actively participating in the country's economic life.

In 1907, the Higher Commercial Courses were transformed into the Moscow Commercial Institute. By 1913, a new Auditorium building was constructed for it, designed by architect Sergey Solovyov. It housed lecture and seminar rooms, a library, and laboratories. The buildings were erected with charitable funds from well-known industrialists and entrepreneurs. Many classrooms and auditoriums were named after those who financed them.

The Institute had two faculties: commercial-economic and commercial-technical, with a four-year training period. Both men and women were admitted to the training. The curriculum included the study of economics, law, political economy, finance, statistics, mathematics, physics, mechanics, foreign languages, philosophy, theology, and history. Specialization was introduced in the senior years. Graduates of the economic faculty received a diploma of candidate of economic sciences, while those from the technical faculty were awarded the title of commercial engineer. Notable scholars and educators, including professors from Moscow University, taught at the institute. The first director was Pavel Ivanovich Novgorodtsev, and the honorary chairman of the Board of Trustees was Sergey Yulyevich Witte.

After the 1917 revolution, the institute was renamed the Moscow Institute of National Economy, which initially bore the name of Karl Marx, and from 1924, Georgy Plekhanov. It is now the Russian Economic University named after G.V. Plekhanov. The buildings of the former schools and institute continue to be used as educational buildings of the university. In the 1970s, a cultural center and a new educational building were constructed nearby.

In 2011-2012, the building of the commercial school was restored. The restoration project, carried out by workshop No. 13 of "Mosproject-2" under the guidance of G.O. Sharipzhanova, preserved the architectural composition of the building and the guardhouse with the fence. Foundations were reinforced, stucco decor and facades were restored. The central stained glass and lost elements, such as the stone arch of the gate, were recreated. In 2012, the restoration work was completed, and the object became a laureate of the "Moscow Restoration, 2012" competition.