site.btaApril 15, 1957: Sofia’s Central Department Store Opens

On April 15, 1957, the Central Department Store (TZUM) was officially opened in central Sofia, in today’s Maria Luiza Boulevard. At the time, it was the largest and most modern retail establishment not only in the country but also on the Balkan Peninsula. The opening ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, members of the diplomatic corps in Sofia, store employees, and members of the public.

The store was spread across seven floors and covered an area of 18,500 square meters, selling household goods, children’s toys, musical instruments, jewellery, clothing, shoes, furniture, electrical appliances, and food products. Within the premises, there was also a restaurant and a pastry shop. The store provided around 500 jobs, while the dining establishments employed approximately 150 people.

Visitors were fascinated by a displayed four-seater Renault car and the escalators, which were the first of their kind installed in the country.

The TSUM building was completed in 1956 based on a design by architect Kosta Nikolov. It is part of an architectural ensemble that began to be developed in the 1950s with the aim of reconstructing and modernizing the central urban area of the capital. In 1986, the building underwent a major reconstruction under the supervision of architect Atanas Nikolov.