Gum is the name of the large department store in moscow that faces red

GUM (department store)

Moscow GUM

With the façade extending for 242 m (794 ft) along the eastern side of Red Square, the Upper Trading Rows were built between 1890 and 1893 by Alexander Pomerantsev (responsible for architecture) and Vladimir Shukhov (responsible for engineering). The trapezoidal building features an interesting combination of elements of Russian medieval architecture and a steel framework and glass roof, a similar style to the great 19th century train stations of London. Nearby, also facing Red Square, is a very similar building, known formerly as the Middle Trading Rows.

The existing structure — defined by William Craft Brumfield as «a tribute both to Shukhov’s design and to the technical proficiency of Russian architecture toward the end of the 19th century» — was built to replace the previous trading rows that had burnt down during 1825. The glass-roofed design made the building unique at the time of construction. The roof, the diameter of which is 14 m (46 ft), looks light, but it is a firm construction made of more than 50,000 metal pods (about 819 short tons (743 t), capable of supporting snowfall accumulation. Illumination is provided by huge arched skylights of iron and glass, each weighing some 820 short tons (740 t) and containing in excess of 20,000 panes of glass. The facade is divided into several horizontal tiers, lined with red Finnish granite, Tarusa marble, and limestone. Each arcade is on three levels, linked by walkways of reinforced concrete.

By the time of the Russian Revolution of 1917, the building contained some 1,200 stores. After the Revolution, the GUM was nationalised and continued to be used as a department store until Joseph Stalin converted it into office space in 1928 for the committee in charge of his first Five Year Plan. After the suicide of Stalin’s wife Nadezhda during 1932, the GUM was used briefly to display her body.

After reopening as a department store during 1953, the GUM became one of the few stores in the Soviet Union that did not have shortages of consumer goods, and the queues of shoppers were long, often extending entirely across Red Square.

At the end of the Soviet era, GUM was partially then fully privatized, and it had a number of owners before it ended owned by the supermarket company Perekryostok. During May 2005, a 50.25% interest was sold to Bosco di Ciliegi, a Russian luxury-goods distributor and boutique operator. As a private shopping mall, it was renamed in such a fashion that it could maintain its old abbreviation and thus still be called GUM. However, the first word Gosudarstvennyj (‘state’) has been replaced with Glavnyj (‘main’), so that GUM is now an abbreviation for «Main Universal Store».

It is still open nowadays, and is a popular tourist destination for those visiting Moscow. Many of the stores feature fashionable brand names familiar in the West; locals refer to these as the «exhibitions of prices», the joke being that no one could afford actually to buy any of the items displayed. As of 2005, there were approximately 200 stores.

There is a similar historic department store that rivals GUM in size, elegance and opulent architecture named Central Universal Store (Tsentralniy Universalniy Magazin, abbreviated as TsUM). It sprawls just east of the Bolshoi Theatre.

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GUM department stores

GUM is the name of the large department store in Moscow that faces Red Square. It used to be a chain of shops in the former republics of the Soviet Union, at which time these shops ( KNOW ) as State Department Store, although GUM now stands for Main Department Store.

The structure on Red Square where GUM is located has been there since the early 1890s. It’s one of the ( FAMOUS ) buildings in the city of Moscow.

The building is nearly a quarter of a kilometre long. Shops inside the building are situated on a long corridor with a glass roof, and each shop sits inside an archway, creating a luxurious shopping experience. The building ( IT ) is a work of art.

GUM department stores

GUM is the name of the large department store in Moscow that faces Red Square. It used to be a chain of shops in the former republics of the Soviet Union, at which time these shops WERE KNOWN as State Department Store, although GUM now stands for Main Department Store.

The structure on Red Square where GUM is located has been there since the early 1890s. It’s one of the MOST FAMOUS buildings in the city of Moscow.

The building is nearly a quarter of a kilometre long. Shops inside the building are situated on a long corridor with a glass roof, and each shop sits inside an archway, creating a luxurious shopping experience. The building ITSELF is a work of art.

GUM Department Store Moscow – Russia

GUM department store on Red Square.

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GUM Department Store in Moscow.

GUM Department Store (Pronounced as Goom in Russian) must be one of the most elite and expensive shopping centres in Moscow. Gum is in fact a very unusual name and I was curious to know where the name came from.

In short GUM stands for: Gosudarsestvenyi Universalnyi Magazin.

GUM Department Store is situated right on Red Square. In fact when you step outside of the building you find yourself on Red Square with a beautiful view of the Kremlin and St. Basils Cathedral. Interesting to know that in the former Soviet times many department stores were called GUM.

GUM department store on Red Square.

History of Moscow’s largest department store.

The building is beautiful with magnificent architecture. It was built between 1890 and 1893. The building features an interesting combination between Russian Medieval Architecture, steel construction and a glass roof. The building is breathtaking at night when it 1000`s of lights light it up. It took my breath away!

I guess we have to thank Catherine II of Russia, who commissioned a Neoclassical architect from Italy, to design a huge trade center along the east side of Red Square. Today we would call it a shopping centre. In 2005 this shopping centre had more than 200 shops.

Want to shop inside GUM Russian Department Store?

Unless you have a very thick wallet full of USD I would not recommend it. The joke is that ordinary people cannot afford to buy here. It is too expensive. When we visited the store the first time in 2008 I saw diamonds from South Africa – De Beers. The price tag for a ring: 45,000 USD. It was a decent size diamond though. The shops are stocked with many famous Western Brand names.

GUM Department Store is a very popular touris attraction in Moscow. You will often find art exhibitions here.

In my opinion, unless you are loaded, don`t buy anything here. It is a nice experience to walk through the shopping centre and to admire all the beautiful items they have to offer. You can use the restroom facilities free of charge – for now!

Where: Moscow, Russian Federation
When: 17 May 2012

GUM In Moscow — Tour Of The Historical Shopping Mall

Shopping centre GUM in Moscow is one of the symbols of the capital of Russia. GUM is situated on Red Square, in the historical centre of Moscow. This amazing department store attracts not only shopping lovers, but also connoisseurs of Moscow history, tourists, and photographers.

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HISTORY OF GUM IN MOSCOW

GUM is a large shopping complex (department store) in the centre of Moscow, on Red Square. More precisely, nowadays GUM is a whole shopping district with multiple shops, cafes and restaurants.

The name GUM is an abbreviation for “State Department Store”.

GUM is located in the centre of Moscow — the main facade of the GUM overlooks Red Square. Don’t be afraid to miss GUM — this is impossible. Firstly, GUM is a huge building. Its façade is 242 m long! Secondly, the façade of GUM has intricate forms, an abundance of decor, complexity of composition and picturesque silhouette. It will surely attract your attention!

GUM is not only a department store. This is also an architectural monument. The current building of GUM was erected in 1890-1893 by architect Alexander Pomerantsev and engineer Vladimir Shukhov.

The main building stands parallel to the Kremlin wall. The main entrance to the building is located on Red Square, in the centre of the facade.

If the facade of the building reminds of old Russian houses and churches, the interiors are purely European. The building was created in the form of a “passage” — shops are placed on multiple storeys along a wide gallery-passage. This type of commercial building was popular in Europe at the end of the XIXth century.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT GUM IN MOSCOW

Interesting fact:
According to the Master Plan for the Reconstruction of Moscow, adopted in Soviet times (in 1935), GUM had to be demolished — thus, they wanted to expand Red Square. Fortunately, this project was never implemented.

The architectural style of GUM is defined as Russian (or Pseudo-Russian) style. Why was this style chosen for GUM? The answer is quite simple. The department store was built during the reign of Russian Emperor Alexander III who adored everything Russian.

By the way, if you also visit St Petersburg, take a tour of St Petersburg’s Passage on Nevsky Prospect. This Passage is not as huge as in Moscow but I advise you to take a tour of it too.

Do you know that…

GUM is not the only Russian-style building in Moscow.

When you enter Red Square, you pass by an impressive red-brick building with turrets. I have heard many times that it looks like a cake. This is the Historical Museum (if you have enough time for visiting Moscow, don’t miss this amazing place). The historical Museum was also built at the end of the 19th century (under the reign of Alexander III)

And if you visit St Petersburg, you will certainly want to see Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood. The church is also built in Russian style (and under the reign of Alexander III (!)

THINGS NOT TO MISS IN GUM

Though GUM is a department store, most people do NOT come there for shopping. Muscovites and guests of the capital consider GUM as a museum. However, if you need shopping, you will find plenty of luxury and mid-range boutiques: from New Balance, Swatch and Calvin Klein to Bulgari, Louis Vuitton, and Dior.

Now let’s see interesting places and thing to do that you may not want to miss in GUM.

— Gastronom N.1

Those who have visited Moscow during the Soviet times, probably remember the famous Gastronom on the ground floor of GUM. In the era of the total deficit, Gastronom was one of the rarest places where people could find all kinds of delicacies and products of high demand.

After the dissolution of the USSR, Gastronom remained closed for almost 30 years. It reopened after restoration only in 2008. Fortunately, times of food deficit have gone. And, in my opinion, Gastronom N.1 is no longer an exceptional place in terms of the choice of products. However, I advise you to take a tour of this shop for 2 main reasons:

Travel Hack:
Gastronom N.1 in GUM is open 24 hours a day, and it has a night discount — 15%. The discount is available from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m.

— Legendary GUM Ice Cream

Ice cream in GUM became a legend a long ago. Many people confirm that GUM’s ice cream is the tastiest in Moscow!

The story of this ice cream dates back to 1954 when they began to produce this cold dessert in one of the production halls of GUM. They say that at present, the ice cream is made exclusively from natural products according to the old Soviet standards, with no preservatives and dyes. The ice cream is produced exclusively for customers in GUM, it is impossible to buy it anywhere else. By the way, the recipe of the GUM ice cream is a secret.

If you want to try the legendary GUM ice cream, head to Gastronom N.1

— Soviet-Style Cafés On The 2nd Floor of GUM

Though GUM is a place for luxury shopping, there are places which will surprise you by their affordability. I’m talking about Soviet-style cafes on the 2nd floor: Stolovaya N.57 and Cafe Festivalnoye. If you wander in the historical centre of Moscow and need a not crazily expensive place for eating out, head to GUM.

You will easily recognise Cafe Festivalnoye with colourful umbrellas and chairs. The cafe has several zones: Asia, Italy, China, Blini, and Potatoes. Each zone serves different food. I would advise opting for Asia and Potatoes for hearty meals, and Blini in case you just need something sweet.

Stolovaya N.57 is a good place for a gastronomic trip to the Soviet Union. It offers a big variety of food: soups, salads, meat, desserts, drinks, pastry, etc. This is where you try such Russian dishes as salad olivier, herring under a fur coat, borscht, pelmeni, pies, and pickles. Prices are as affordable as in Cafe Festivalnoye. For example, a three-course lunch (soup, salad, drink) costs 400-450 Rub. (

The only disadvantage of this place is that it is often crowded. Though waiting in a queue is also a Soviet-style feature.

— Famous GUM Fountain

The fountain in GUM is one of the landmarks of Moscow. The fountain often changes its decoration. In spring, it is surrounded by blooming trees. During the FIFA World Cup 2018 (when Russia hosted the Cup), there were dozens of black-and-white balls floating in the water. In autumn, the basin of the fountain can be full of watermelons and melons.

The fountain is the most picturesque and photographed place in GUM. So don’t miss the chance to wander around it.

— Caviar In The Caviar Bar on the Ground Floor of GUM

The caviar bar Beluga opened in GUM in 2019. It is located on the ground floor of the department store. Obviously, the main item of the bar is caviar. The assortment includes sturgeon, beluga, salmon and pike caviar. Visitors can try it in the bar or take away.

But the caviar is not the only dish in the Beluga bar. There are many fish dishes and seafood snacks. For example, they serve tartar from sockeye salmon or smoked salmon. They also offer more than 40 types of champagne from famous brands and small farms, as well as a large selection of vodka and cocktails.

Expensive? Expensive. But caviar can not be cheap.

— Historical Toilet Rooms

Yes, you’ve read it right — in GUM you can visit the historical toilet rooms which are toilet rooms and a museum at the same time.

Luxurious toilet rooms were created 120 years ago. Then they were destroyed during the Soviet times and restored in 2001. Nowadays, museum visitors can not only admire the beautiful design of the XIXth century toilet rooms but also use them for their intended purpose.

Entrance fee: 200 Rub. (

Travel Tip:
If you visit Moscow during New Year holidays, put GUM on your bucket list. GUM is usually beautifully decorated but in December and January is just a fairy-tale place with dozens of New Year trees, hundreds of ornaments, and a truly festive atmosphere.

Main Department Store

Main Department Store or GUM (ГУМ, pronounced as goom, in full Главный Универсальный Магазин, Glavnyi Universalnyi Magazin) is a common name for the main department store in many cities of the Soviet Union and some post-Soviet states. The most famous GUM is a large store in Kitai-gorod of Moscow, facing Red Square. It is actually a shopping mall. Prior to the 1920s the place was known as the Upper Trading Rows.

See also

Moscow GUM

The existing structure — defined by William Craft Brumfield as «a tribute both to Shukhov’s design and to the technical proficiency of Russian architecture toward the end of the 19th century» — was built to replace the previous trading rows that had burnt down in 1825. The glass-roof designed made the building unique at the time of construction. The roof, whose diameter is Шаблон:Convert, looks light, but it is a firm construction made of over 50,000 pods (about Шаблон:Convert) of metal. Illumination is provided by huge arched skylights of iron and glass, each weighing some Шаблон:Convert tons and containing in excess of 20,000 panes of glass. The facade is split into several horizontal tiers, lined with red Finnish granite, Tarusa marble, and limestone. Each arcade is on three levels, linked by walkways of reinforced concrete.

By the time of the Russian Revolution of 1917, the building contained some 1,200 stores. After the Revolution, the GUM was nationalised and continued to work as a department store until Joseph Stalin turned it into office space in 1928 for the committee in charge of his first Five Year Plan. After the suicide of Stalin’s wife Nadezhda in 1932, the GUM was used to display her body.

After reopening as a department store in 1953, the GUM became one of the few stores in the Soviet Union that was not plagued by shortages of consumer goods, and the queues to purchase anything were long, often extending all across Red Square.

At the end of the Soviet era, GUM was partially then fully privatized, and it passed through a number of owners before it ended up in the hands of the supermarket chain Perekryostok. In May 2005, a 50.25% interest was sold to Bosco di Ciliegi, a Russian luxury-goods distributor and boutique operator. As a private shopping mall, it was renamed in such a fashion that it could maintain its old abbreviation and still be called GUM. The first word «Gosudarstvennyj» has been replaced with «Glavnyj» (Rus. Главный) ‘main’, so that GUM is now an abbreviation for «Main Department Store».

It is still open today, and is a popular tourist destination for those visiting Moscow. Many of the stores feature high-fashion brand names familiar in the west; locals refer to these as the «exhibitions of prices», the joke being that no one could afford to actually buy any of the items on display. As of 2005, there were approximately 200 stores.

There is a similar historic department store that rivals GUM in size, elegance and opulent architecture called Central Department Store (Tsentralniy Universalniy Magazin, abbreviated as TsUM). It sprawls just east of the Bolshoi Theatre.