Kupetz Eliseevs Food Hall (KE)
The Kupetz Eliseevs Food Hall (Елисеевский магазин) is the most striking building of St. Petersburg Art Nouveau architecture, located on Nevsky Prospect 56.
Built in 1903 by the architect Gavriil Vasilyevich Baranovsky for the Yeliseev brothers, it was a trading house selling "colonial goods," including exotic food, fruit and wine.
The building was considered controversial at the time of its construction, standing out against the overall classic architecture.
Being one of the oldest institutions in Saint Petersburg, you can still buy nowadays loose produce and exquisite delicacies varying from modern French pâtisserie, confectionary, bakery, cheese, charcuterie, smoked salmon, caviar wines and spirits, tea & coffee, and over 3,000 varieties of exclusive products.
They have an incredible bakery and pastry that reminds me of France, and it's probably the only store where I know to be able to find quality products "with the true French taste". For example, I find there an incredible "pain aux raisins," a giant "palmier," appetizing "chausson aux pommes," and a classic "croissant".
On the second floor of Eliseevsky, you can find The Comedy Theatre since 1929, named after N.P. Akimov.
When gentlemen invited ladies to the theater, they often dropped by Eliseevsky and treated ladies with fresh fruit, chocolate and cheese.
In 2012, the famous artist Mikhail Shemyakin created for the stained-glass window an incredibly beautiful showcase with moving characters from the Nutcracker fairy tale, a modern version of which you can watch at the Mariinsky New Stage.
I would call it a very small and local Russian Harrods.
There is a true bourgeois atmosphere with its luxurious exterior trim, stained-glass windows, frontispiece sculptures, and plenty of decorations with floral motives.
You see all the splendor of the Russian Emperors’ palaces with gold coating, antique furniture and ceiling luminaires.
Background music creates a pleasant atmosphere, and as a tourist, if you are tired, you can always stop there in the small café for a drink and something tasty.
In any case, it's a must-see place, even for a quick visit.
A SMALL LEGEND TO FINISH IN BEAUTY
On Christmas Eve 1812, a labourous gardener named Peter Eliseev, Count Sheremetev’s serf, delivered fresh raspberries for his master’s guests. The astonished Count asked his serf how to thank him for such a treat. Peter didn`t hesitate and asked for freedom. Sheremetev kept his promise and set Eliseev and his wife free awarding them with a small fortune.
It turned out that the former serf possessed an extraordinary aptitude for commerce.
Peter Eliseev became famous all over St. Petersburg, thanks to his ability to surprise the most demanding customers. That is where the story of the Eliseevy Merchants’ Shop began.
A few decades later, Peter`s descendants would open the Eliseev Emporium in St. Petersburg, the most opulent food hall in the Russian Empire, which is still open for customers.
From the very first moment of its history the store is not just a food store: it also includes fine dining restaurants and in some cases can serve as a grand hall for celebrations.
Belle Promenade !
*Have a nice walk
