The Inheritance of Pavlovskaya Square6 photos

The Heritage of Pavlovskaya Square

The historical name of this square was Rosa Luxembourg Square – Trade Square. For 150 years, it was the main urban market in the city. At that time, it was customary to haggle over prices; buyers would only purchase goods at a price they agreed with the sellers. A well-known merchant in Kharkov named Pavlov realized that some people were too shy or unwilling to engage in such bargaining.
So he decided to introduce a new practice: fixed prices. His colleagues were certain that this would lead to his bankruptcy, but instead, he became one of the most successful merchants in Trade Square. He even built a large stone house there, which later passed to his son.

From 1868 to 1874, the Pavlov House housed the Small Theatre, where Berger’s opera troupe performed. Later, it became the most prestigious hotel in Kharkov – the “Grand Hotel”. In the 1830s, the square was renamed Pavlovskaya Square. As his wealth grew, Pavlov began purchasing large tracts of land, including what is now known as Pavlovo Pole and the village of Pavlovka. Trade activities on Pavlovskaya Square continued until World War II.

Source: vk.com/old_kharkov

In the independent Ukraine era, another commercial establishment named “Pavlovsky” was opened on the very same square.