Depo Moscow

Depo Moscow (Депо.Москва) is a food mall and gastronomic quarter located at 20A Lesnaya Street in the Tverskoy District of Moscow, Russia. It occupies the site of the former Miussky tram and trolleybus depot, a complex of nine buildings that dates back to the 1870s. The idea to create a gastronomic quarter on the site of the Miussky tram depot belonged to Vladislav Yusupov, and the developer was the Sigma Investment Group, which won the right to lease and reconstruct the depot for 49 years. The food mall opened to visitors on 14 February 2019. The venue is described as the largest such site in Moscow. It combines history and modernity, offering a cultural and gastronomic space with dozens of food stalls, restaurants, bars, and retail services. The main building is a shopping centre (food mall) called Depo.Moscow, while the surrounding territory includes other structures used for various purposes. The complex is a popular venue for meetings, cultural events, and large concerts in the capital. Depo Moscow hosts a wide range of services beyond dining, including billiards, photo studios, beauty salons, a boxing gym, a bank branch, a pharmacy, a computer club, an ice rink, and various shops. The food mall also runs a franchise programme and hosts numerous events, from food festivals to concerts and sports broadcasts. The historic buildings of the former depot were recognised as a cultural heritage site in 2016, and the reconstruction preserved the architectural character of the original industrial complex, which features red brick facades with Romanesque and Gothic elements. The project is part of a broader redevelopment of the Miussky depot area into a business and cultural centre. The food mall operates under the name Depo.Moscow and is a prominent example of adaptive reuse of industrial heritage in Moscow.

The history of the site begins in the 1870s with the construction of the Miussky horse-drawn railway park. Experiments with horse-drawn railways in Moscow started in the 1870s, and by 1872 the first two lines were operational. In late 1873, the city council signed a contract with Count Alexei Uvarov to create a full network. To service the horse-drawn tram, a separate depot was needed, and it was decided to open the Miussky Park. The construction contract was awarded to Moscow merchant Ivan Andreevich Busurlin. In just one year, in 1874, a whole complex of buildings was constructed: a workshop, a stable for 114 horses, a carriage shed for 100 carriages, a barracks, and three warehouses. The opening took place in August 1874, and on 3 September a report was published in the newspaper Russkiye Vedomosti about the ceremonial event. By 1875, the horse-drawn tram in the capital had 7 lines and over 70 double-decker carriages, carrying 8 million passengers per year. By 1891, there were 11 lines, 325 carriages, and 1,539 horses. Of the 6 parks serving this network, Miussky was the largest. In 1901, work began on the first experimental city tram lines. An electric substation was opened on Miusskaya Square, and the depot was modernised for the joint operation of horse-drawn and electric trams. In 1907, the Miussky Park fully switched to servicing the new tram, and in 1908–1911 it was actively rebuilt. All wooden buildings were demolished and replaced with stone ones. During this period, a two-storey administration building, carriage, mechanical, and electrical workshops appeared. The ensemble reflects the idea of its era — "to build factories like palaces." The so-called "brick style" of industrial architecture of that time combines Russian architectural traditions with elements of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The complex was designed by architects Mikhail Nikolayevich Gleinig and Nikolai Konstantinovich Zhukov. In 1914, the writer Konstantin Paustovsky served as a tram driver and conductor at the Miussky tram park. Later, Bolshevik Mikhail Kalinin worked there, and Alexander Pavlovich Leonov began his career there. In November 1921, the park was named after Pyotr Shchepetilnikov, who had previously worked there as a mechanic and was an active participant in the revolutionary events of 1905. In 1924, a glider "Komsomolets" by Pyotr Klementyev was built on the basis of its workshops. In the early 1930s, the last stage of construction took place — second floors were added to the administrative and residential buildings. In 1952, reconstruction of the complex for a trolleybus park began, and the transition period lasted a little over two years. It received the name "Branch of the Order of the October Revolution 4th Trolleybus Park named after Shchepetilnikov." By July 1955, the park already had 93 MTB-82 trolleybuses for 6 lines. On 11 November 1957, tram operation was discontinued. In the 1950s–1960s, small service buildings were added to the depot, designed in the same style as the main ensemble. In the 1980s, partial internal repairs and replacement of floors were carried out. Overall, from the mid to late 20th century, the Miussky Park did not undergo significant changes. 11 April 2014 is considered the last day of the park's operation. The territory was later converted into a business centre, and the land category was changed to "For placement of business purpose objects, including office centres." In 2016, the site received the status of a cultural heritage object. On 14 February 2019, the gastronomic quarter "Depo" opened its doors to visitors. The idea to open a gastronomic quarter on the site of the Miussky tram park belonged to Vladislav Yusupov. The developer was the investment group "Sigma," which won the right to lease and reconstruct the Miussky depot for 49 years. Today, "Depo" is a popular venue for meetings with friends, cultural events, and large-scale concerts in the capital. The food mall houses dozens of food stalls and various services.

• 2019

  Gastronomic quarter 'Depo' opened on 14 February.

• 2016

  Site received cultural heritage status.

• 2014

  Last day of park operation on 11 April.

• 1952

  Reconstruction for trolleybus park began.

• 1921

  Park named after Pyotr Shchepetilnikov.

• 1907

  Miussky Park fully switched to servicing electric trams.

• 1874

  Construction of the Miussky horse-drawn railway park completed; opening in August.

Largest food mall and gastronomic quarter in Moscow, combining historic industrial architecture with modern dining and entertainment.

• Food mall stalls

• Restaurants and bars

• Retail services

• Event spaces

1. 1Фудмолл «Депо.Москва» - г. Москва, ул. Лесная, 20Adepomoscow.ru
2. 2Фудмолл «Депо.Москва» - О насdepomoscow.ru
3. 3Фудмолл «Депо.Москва» - Услуги и сервисыdepomoscow.ru
4. 4Фудмолл «Депо.Москва» - Сбербанкdepomoscow.ru
5. 5Депо Леснаяru.wikipedia.org
6. 6Depolesnayawikidata.org