In the late 18th and early 19th centuries in the city of Kostroma was built by the late-warehouse complex or Shopping arcade. By area, this complex covers an area of several blocks, starting from the Susanin square and ending at the former Kremlin that in the Central part of the city. Shopping arcade is exemplary and illustrative of the traditional monument of town-planning art, referring to the era urban reform Catherine.

As we know from the history of Kostroma, in the 17th century it reached the peak of its flourishing economic development that make this city one of the most economically important throughout Moscow Russia. In this regard, in Kostroma built a huge shopping center, trade which began on wooden benches. In 1773 there was a big fire, in which nearly all retail shops, and houses, and numerous warehouses were completely destroyed by fire. Shortly after the fire was large-scale reconstruction of the entire city.

According to the developed project, a new series was planned to build out of stone, while work began in early 1775. The basis was approved by the "model" project, which was signed by the provincial architect from the city of Vladimir – Carl von Clair. In the process of designing and building new facilities participated in the following architects: V. P. Stasov, S. A. Vorotilov, N. And. Melin, P. I. Fursov.

A major feature of the new plan became traditional section merchants, when every shop had a size of 4, 5 and up to 7 m, which corresponded to one of the arched span of the gallery. The main trading room was located on the ground floor, and storage and warehousing of goods has been adapted to the basement and second floor. Central store office was located upstairs.

Construction began with the so-called Red series, which was called Gostiny Dvor; the works were carried out under the guidance Vorotilov Stepan Andreevich in 1789. The first building was built in the shape of a rectangle, the size of which reached 110 to 160 meters. In the process of construction of the body had to solve an important task. The planned place of establishment of the facility was situated the ancient temple of Kostroma – the Church of the Saviour in the Ranks. It was originally wooden, but in 1766 there was built a stone Church, the architects managed to accurately enter the temple in the panorama of the Red series.

Its name Red rows received by reason of the fact that there were trade only "red" commodity – rich fabrics, precious furs, leather goods, and a variety of books. Construction work was carried out quickly, and in March 1791 Duma of Kostroma was informed that 33 stalls are now ready to be finished with 19 and 11 stores the prepared materials – total number of planned shelves was 86. The completion of the construction work occurred in 1793.

As Gostiny Dvor, his gallery was fitted with a smooth ceiling, lined with stone slabs and decorated with signs. It is worth noting that the showcases not only the epicenter of the commercial life of the City, but also a recreational place.

The largest Shopping arcade building steel Large cakes series, the size of which reached 122 to 163 meters. In 1791, was supposed to build a 52 stalls, which would be destined for retail or wholesale flax, fodder and flour, but were only 26.

Rectangular room Large Flour and Red trading rows were equipped with rounded corners that was made specifically for travellers of the carriages and strollers will not hit space when turning.

Also were built with Petty rows, which were intended for haberdashery trade. New series perfectly fit into the overall picture, capitalizing on the area of the entire shopping center.

After a while, next to the already existing trade stalls lined Bread, Gingerbread, Fish, Fish, Leaven, Saddlery, Meat, Oil, Tar ranks, Vegetable, Tobacco rows.

The whole architectural ensemble of the Trading rows were built in several decades. According to the results of all the works they occupied a considerable part of the territory of the city's main square, as well as available to the Volga descent.