Shopping arcades are the predecessors of modern shopping centers, because just like in malls today, in the old days you could buy everything here — from poppy seed bagels and herring to boots and books. Unfortunately, the old shopping arcades in the center of Sergiev Posad have not survived. They were demolished in 1968 as relics of a bygone era with a merchant spirit that was not accepted by the Soviet authorities.
But the need for a city market did not disappear, because you cannot live on politics alone; city residents need fresh food and inexpensive goods.
In 2006, the shopping center «Torgovye Ryady» opened in the historic center of Sergiev Posad. Here, just like in ordinary markets across the country, you can buy quality fresh food, and separate spaces are set aside for goods from private household farms. Homegrown vegetables, dairy products, and meat raised by local farmers undergo standardization and sanitary control.
The first floor of «Torgovye Ryady» is devoted to the food market. The second floor houses dozens of stores selling household goods and furniture. The third floor offers clothing, footwear, and other accessories, while the fourth floor is home to the restaurant «Yolki-Palki», whose windows offer an excellent view of the old city center and the golden domes of the churches.
