TsUM
TsUM
TsUM – or ZUM Aichurek – is the main department store in Bishkek.
The store was established in 1956 as part of a chain of shops throughout the former Soviet Union, run from Moscow by the Ministry of Trade, known as Central Universal Magazine. (In Russian the word for Central is Tsentralniy , or Zentralniy … Universal is the same in Russian and Magazine is the Russian word for “shop”). Every major Soviet city had a TsUM. There is even one in Naryn, but it is nowhere near as big or impressive as the one in Bishkek.
Not that it is that big or impressive when compared to department stores found in the West. Indeed, even here in Bishkek TsUM is facing considerable competition as new Department stores, (or Trade Centres, as they are are often called here), are being built and opened. Even so, TsUM holds a special place in the hearts of Bishkek’s citizens.
TsUM
The square outside the store is often lively and a regular meeting point. It has also been the scene of “flash mobs”, including a recreation of the famous “Grand Central Station Freeze“.
The shop was also known as the Frunze Department Store (or FDS) – Frunze was the name of Bishkek at that time. The first shop was located in Dershinski Park – but the following year it moved to premises on what was then called “Stalin Street”, (later renamed as Prospect Lenin, and known today as Prospect Chui). It moved into the present six-story building in 1974.
The range of goods on offer included such items as: books, children’s goods, clothing and footwear (including ready made garments), household goods, jewellery, leather goods, musical instruments, perfume, photographic goods, records, sports equipment, stationery, textiles, and toys – and later new products such electrical goods were added. Because they were a far cry from that usually found in local shops - the store quickly acquired the nickname “Lux” … unfortunately, however, things like clothing did not always tally with the current season. The store proved to be popular, however, and became established itself as the foremost retail outlet in the city – and was able to establish a number of branches in other cities around the republic. They also established training programmes and built an apartment block for the employees.
The new building which opened in 1974 occupied 25000 square meters, with over 380 trading places on three floors (with warehouse space on available on three more floors). At the time it also boasted the first (and only) escalators in the city (and in the country – although now there are some more) – and provided employment for 1000 people.
Following Independence and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, TsUM was privatized … but the economic situation in the country went through a difficult period and the the company started to become unprofitable – even though the workforce was reduced to about 500. In 1998 an Italian Company bought an interest in the company and provided two and a half million dollars of investment in the renovation of the building – and a further injection of cash in 2002.
During the Tulip Revolution of 2006 – whilst many looting and devastation was widespread throughout the city, the staff and tenants of TsUM circled and protected the building – nothing was stolen.
Today, TsUM has four floors of trading space – with about 700 tenants, offering a wide range of consumer foods and souvenirs, operates an outdoor market, a business center renting office space, and there plans to develop even more retail space, 4000 square meters of car park space, an entertainment space. The store receives on average 20000 visitors per day.
Souvenirs are on sale on the top floor, although the prices tend to be a little more expensive than at smaller shops, reflecting the additional costs that that the stall holders incur.
For the record: Aichurek is the name of a character in the Manas epic. She was the wife of Semetei, the son of the legendary hero. Although she was betrothed to Semetei even before he was born they didn’t meet until later in life after Semetei had ascended to his father’s throne. His rivals besiege the fortress of Manas’ old friend, (and Aichurek’s father), Akhun Khan. To escape the siege, Aichurek turns into a white swan and flies away from her father’s home in search of a protector. She finds Semetei and to entice him steals his falcon, and he follows along with his companions – some of whom are sons of Manas’ original companions. When they meet, Semetei falls for her, and gathering his forces sets out to relieve his father-in-law. Once more peace and quiet is established throughout the land.
This episode of the story was the subject of an opera by Maldabaev, (libretto by Bokonbaev, Malikovym and Turusbekov), which is still performed as part repertoire of the Opera and Ballet Theatre.
Bishkek