Kiosks and Pavilions

Convenience shopping finally hit St. Petersburg. The free market arrived at street-level in kiosks, on portable stands or folding tables, and off the backs of trucks. Kiosk cities have sprung up near every metro station and just about anywhere else where people might pass or with sufficient sidewalk space. Indeed, kiosks have proved so popular that St. Petersburg is now entering its second generation of sidewalk shopping: pavilions - more permanent and certainly more eye-catching structures. By city decree these sidewalk mini-malls are supposed to "complement the surrounding landscape" (a scary thought if you've ever been to Prospekt Prosveshenaya) but the architects, in typical Soviet style, have taken complement to mean dominate and today faux Taj Mahals of canary yellow and baby blue are popping up to replace the mud and rust huts of the original kiosks.

Hours vary and depend on what is sold in the kiosk or pavilion, the area of town, and how much protection money is paid. All sorts of things from food, drink, and cigarettes to books, clothes, and stereo equipment can be purchased. Be wary of spirits; kiosks are infamous dumping grounds for bottled filth (see Alcoholic Beverages in Food and Drink). There are also kiosks specializing in bootleg CDs and videos, newspapers, and theater tickets (the latter are labeled ; see Tickets in Culture).