In February, the permanent media partner "Weekend" celebrated again its birthday in the Prospekt shopping mall. This year, there were cultural and tourist concepts of the celebration: Kyiv guides Sofiia Hrabovetska, Tania Adamus, Olena Oros and Alona Deriabina came to visit the shopping mall to discuss how much the leisure time of Kyiv residents has changed over the past 100-150 years. 

At the beginning of the 20th century, the role of shopping malls in Kyiv was played by passages where fashion stores were located, where you could buy handbags, jewelry, men's and women's hats and much more. One of the first such structures, though not covered, was located near the current Lva Tolstoho square. 

But there were not only shops in the passages, but entertainment was also usually offered there. Men knew that while their wife was with the milliner, they could go take a picture in a photo studio, choose a new record and listen to music, pick up a book. Clothes were mostly sewn by dressmakers.

In the current shopping malls, in particular in the Prospekt shopping mall, the choice of entertainment and shops is slightly larger. You can go to the cinema, take a series of selfies in the fitting room (and at the same time do not need to freeze for a long time), drink coffee on the food court, and the size grid of clothing from brands is much wider. 

At the beginning of the 20th century, the most fashionable street in the city was Khreshchatyk. At one time, the jewelry company of the world-famous Karl Faberge even opened a store on Khreshchatyk. However, that store did not work for long, because it could not stand the competition from the local jeweler Joseph Marchak.

In modern Kyiv, there are much more fashionable meeting places, you don't even have to leave your area for shopping in the center. You can choose, try on and hunt for discounts near your home, place of work or study. But, of course, the history of your city is also worth remembering in order to notice similar things and draw conclusions.  

Source: https://projects.weekend.today/guides_in_prospekt