Bookshelves of Moscow

It would be strange if the inhabitants of the city, which became the main setting for hundreds of masterpieces of literature, did not like to read. And in order for this feeling to be transmitted from person to person, many bookstores were built in the capital. And the most diverse: small and large, recently opened and known for decades, with books and novelties. And each of them has
its own history and bookshelves.....

Entropy Bookstore

Adress: Maly Lyovshinsky Lane, 10

First riddle

The history of Book Entropy began in 2016 in a small building on Malaya Tatarskaya Street. On the shelves of the store immediately began to appear rare antique editions and household items of not one bygone era. So, a year later, the store has already entered the Guild of antique booksellers and the International Association of Antique Booksellers.

After “Book entropy” moved to the building at the address Small Levshinsky Lane, 10. Thus, inside the store appeared more rare literature, which is appreciated by bibliophile buyers. Visitors even called the shop a “cave of treasures” because of its unique assortment. Indeed, everything can be found here: from Soviet-era brochures in single copies to vintage prints.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

It has been said that the sciences and humanities are difficult to combine, but Book Entropy is the antithesis of that judgment. The term from physics, meaning disorderliness, describes better than any other word the chaotic nature of the display cases in an antique store.

Antique shop "Cherry Orchard"
on Trubnaya

Adress: Trubnaya str., 25, p. 3

Second riddle

Antique salon “Cherry Orchard” is located in the house, where the writer himself used to live. The apartment on Trubnaya, 25 rented parents Chekhov, who in those days was better known as a feuilletonist with 50 pseudonyms. In the XIX century, by the way, the neighborhood of Tsvetnoy Boulevard was called Grachevka and was considered gloomy and unsightly. For this reason, Anton Pavlovich left the yellow mansion when he began working as a doctor, but it was this building that became the first home of the provincial, as a consequence of an incredibly strong love for the capital.

Nowadays, hundreds of vintage books and rare editions can be found in this place, telling about various spheres of life - from philosophy to beauty secrets of the past century. However, these are not all the valuable rarities that can be found on the shelves. Lovers of antiques will definitely like this store for its assortment, because here in the neighborhood there are clay sculptures made a century ago, old chandeliers and vintage European silver, and on the walls hang rare posters and geographical maps.

Despite the fact that the writer's metaphorical garden was cut down more than a century ago, the bookstore with the same name remains an image of bygone eras and a reminder of the everyday life of yesteryear.

“It seemed to me that there was no better place in the world than our garden,” the heroine of Chekhov's play Anya Ranevskaya said with awe.
A century after the publication of the work, they continue to speak this way, but no longer as characters of literature, but as bibliophiles, and not about a metaphorical place, but about the bookstore on Trubnaya Street.

Samokat Bookstore

Adress: Malaya Ordynka, 18, 1

Third riddle

Since the beginning of the XXI century, the estate has opened its doors to new visitors - young readers and their parents. The fact is that in 2003 “Selikhova Mansion” was taken over by the children's publishing house “Samokat”. Now the cozy courtyard with a front garden is filled with children's laughter, and the halls become a place of attraction for artists, sculptors and cartoonists who hold master classes for children.

After a devastating fire in Moscow in 1812, the estate was rebuilt by merchant Kulomzina. Thus, the house acquired the distinctive features of the post-fire development of Zamoskvorechye: a log cabin of 1814 and elegant wooden platbands on the facades. During the XIX century the estate changed owners several times, and the most significant contribution to its appearance was made by merchant Khomyakov. Under him, a two-storey annex was built along the border of the plot, which half a century later became a favorite place for lovers of creativity. Indeed, during the Soviet period the estate found a new life, becoming a home for sculptors and artists who spent their days and nights in the workshops at 18/1 Malaya Ordynka.

The history of the old manor on Malaya Ordynka, 18/1, could be the subject of a TV series - so many changes took place within its walls from the 18th century to the present day. Since its foundation, the building has been home to various owners, but the first among them was the wife of Lieutenant Makarov. In 1797, the estate passed to the wife of the collegiate counselor Selikhova, which is the reason why local historians sometimes call the building “Selikhova's Mansion”.

Hyperion Bookstore

Adress: Bolshoy Trekhsvyatitsky lane, 2/1, p. 1

Fourth riddle

The club-shop has two halls: a book hall and an auditorium. In the first room everyone can find a publication to their liking, because there is almost everything here: from cult comics from the 90s to new bestsellers and illustrated
reprints of classic literature.

The auditorium is known as a regular venue for cultural lectures, plays and plays, and jazz concerts. There isn't a week on the calendar when the Hyperion doesn't host workshops or tea parties to discuss a literary work, movie or play.

Very close to one of the buildings of Vyshka, there is a small bookstore called Hyperion. In a place whose name is inspired by a science fiction work by Dan Simmons, there is also a place for something incredible. To be more precise, the fantastic atmosphere that surrounds every shelf of the store.