In the 17th century, Kostroma experienced an economic upturn and became one of the key cities of the Russian kingdom. A large trading center was formed here, where trade was initially conducted on wooden stalls. However, after the fire of 1773, which destroyed all the stalls, warehouses, and houses, a large-scale reconstruction of the city began. It was decided to build new trading rows from stone, and work started in 1775. The basis for the construction was a project developed by the Yaroslavl provincial architect Karl von Kler. Architects S. A. Vorotilov, V. P. Stasov, P. I. Fursov, and N. I. Metlin also participated in the design and construction. Each merchant's stall, measuring 4.5 by 7 meters, corresponded to one arched span of the gallery. The first floor housed the trading area, the second floor and basement were used for storage, and usually, the office of the stall was located above. Construction began with the Red Trading Rows, also known as the Gostiny Dvor, under the guidance of Stepan Andreyevich Vorotilov in 1789. The building was constructed in the shape of a closed rectangle measuring 110 by 160 meters. The construction of the building was a complex task, as there was a church of the Savior in the Rows, one of the oldest in Kostroma, on the construction site. The architects managed to organically incorporate the church into the Red Rows. The name 'Red Rows' is associated with the trade of fabrics, leather goods, furs, and books. Construction progressed quickly, and in March 1791, the city council reported that 33 stalls were ready, 19 were under construction, and materials were prepared for 11, with a total of 86 stalls planned. The work was completed by 1793.

The galleries of the Gostiny Dvor with stone slabs, ornate signs, and shop windows became not only a center of trade but also a place for walks and meetings of townspeople. The construction of the largest building, the Large Flour Rows measuring 122 by 163 meters, progressed more slowly. In 1791, out of 52 planned stalls intended for trading flour, fodder, and flax, 26 were roughly ready. This was due to the fact that the land under the rows on the northern side belonged to Count A. R. Vorontsov, and negotiations for its transfer to the city continued until 1794. The rectangular buildings of the Red and Large Flour Rows have rounded corners so that carriages could pass without hitting the buildings.

Architect P. I. Fursov built single-story Grocery Rows for the trade of haberdashery in the courtyard of the Red Rows. Since the Gostiny Dvor was a closed rectangle with a large inner courtyard, the Grocery Rows fit organically into it, forming small trading 'streets'. Later, the Gingerbread, Bread, Kvass, Live Fish, Fish, Meat, and Leather Rows were built, surrounded by colonnades and arcades. Then the Green, Oil, Vegetable, Tobacco, and Tar Rows appeared.

The architectural ensemble of the rows was built over several decades, occupying a vast area, the main square of the city, and the descent to the Volga. Most of the buildings have survived to this day and continue to serve their primary function.