The building at 9 Trehprudny Lane resembles the palace of a wealthy merchant or nobleman due to its majestic and pompous appearance. However, in pre-revolutionary Moscow, it was known as the Levenson Printing House, one of the most successful printing houses in the Russian Empire, founded by Alexander Alexandrovich Levenson.

Levenson started his business by printing business cards, posters, and brochures. The volume of orders constantly grew, and in 1887, with the involvement of investors, he established the "Levenson Printing Partnership." The firm gained wide recognition after publishing materials related to the coronation of Nicholas II and was awarded the title of supplier to the Court of His Imperial Majesty for the high quality of its publications.

A few years later, the number of employees at the printing house significantly increased, and the previous building became cramped. Levenson decided to build a new printing house, using advanced engineering solutions of the time. The project was commissioned to the famous architect Shchusev, who created not just a printing house, but styled it like a medieval castle with arches, stone patterns, and Gothic towers. By the early 20th century, the Levenson Printing House had become one of the landmarks of Moscow.

Additionally, new workshops opened on Trehprudny Lane: photozincography, typefoundry, lithography, and binding. Here, the first stories of Chekhov and Tsvetaeva were printed, as well as various newspapers, books, tickets, and albums by famous artists such as Serov and Korovin. Clients valued the Levenson printing house for its quality and speed of work.

After 1917, difficult times came for the private printing house. There is an intriguing legend that during those turbulent years, red commissioners allegedly approached Levenson and offered to print new Soviet money. The businessman inquired about the price, but the guests smirked and said he could take as much as he wanted from the printed money. Levenson refused, considering the offer strange. Whether they were indeed commissioners or just fraudsters remains a mystery. Subsequently, the building housed Mospolygraph.