Opening Date and History

Today, it is hard to imagine Theater Square without the gray Gothic castle towering behind the Small Theater. In the 1880s, two Scots, Archibald Meriliz and Andrew Muir, moved from St. Petersburg to Moscow and settled on Kuznetsky Most. The building at the corner of Theater Square became the third store for these successful entrepreneurs. It was a three-story corner house from the mid to late 19th century, where the Golofteeva Passage had previously been located, built by M.D. Bykovsky for M.N. Golitsyn.

The 'Muir and Meriliz' trading house was popular among Muscovites. In 1900, transitioning to retail, the firm became the first Russian department store. 'Muir and Meriliz' published a catalog from which any goods over 25 rubles could be ordered from anywhere in Russia.

The store's trading was organized at a high level. The salespeople were known for their politeness, and if a product was unsatisfactory, it could be exchanged. The store established fixed prices for goods, which distinguished it from other Moscow fashion stores. Bargain hunters could only console themselves with the occasional sales.

Reconstruction and Restoration

On November 24, 1900, a fire occurred in the trading house building at the corner of Theater Square, completely destroying the structure and leaving only the walls. The project for the new trading house was entrusted to architect R.I. Klein. The Scottish origins of the owners inspired the architect to create a building in the style of English Gothic. The metal structures and framework of the building were developed by engineer V.G. Shukhov. New technologies allowed for spacious rooms with huge display windows. 'Muir and Meriliz' became pioneers, being the first to use reinforced concrete in construction.

In 1908, on Christmas, the new building was opened. The store was equipped with the latest technology: customers could use electric elevators, and there were information desks and waiting rooms for convenience.

By 1910, it was the largest store in Moscow, with 80 departments filled with toiletries, furniture, dishes, carpets, and toys. After the revolution, the building was vacant for a short time. In 1922, it was occupied by the Mosstorg department store. The opening was grand, and Muscovites liked the store, although they continued to call it by the names of the first owners for a long time. Professor Preobrazhensky from Bulgakov's novella 'Heart of a Dog' sends Zina to 'Muir' for a collar for Sharik.

Although the new name TSUM was given to the store in 1922, it only became widely accepted in the early 1930s. During the Great Patriotic War, the spacious premises of TSUM were used as barracks. After the war, the building was returned to TSUM, and in the 1970s, a new building was constructed nearby, expanding the retail space.

The ice cream sold at TSUM could compete with that of GUM and Detsky Mir. Long lines formed for waffle cones filled with vanilla and chocolate ice cream.

In the late 1990s, the TSUM building underwent major repairs and reconstruction by a German firm. It remains a fashionable store, rivaling international counterparts.