The Central Department Store, or TSUM, has long become the primary reference point for taxi drivers and Tashkent residents, despite its proximity to the Alisher Navoi Grand Academic Theater, the “Tashkent” Hotel (now Lotte City Hotel Tashkent Palace), and the “Blue Domes” Boulevard.

TSUM opened in October 1964, during the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the Uzbek SSR, simultaneously with the first underground passage in Uzbekistan located nearby. For thirty years, it remained Tashkent’s largest retail enterprise — and one of the city’s key transport hubs: tram and bus loops, trolleybus and bus stops were situated nearby.

The TSUM building completed the formation of Theater Square, already adorned by the A. Navoi Theater (1947) and the “Tashkent” Hotel (1958).

Architects L. M. Blat, L. S. Komissar, and A. I. Freytag astonished the citizens: TSUM sharply differed from the usual development. It was one of the first buildings in the then-fashionable style of Soviet modernism — concise, made of concrete and glass. Despite being three stories tall, the building does not appear heavy: it seems to float on columns. The retail space exceeded 11,000 square meters. Uzbekistan’s first escalator was installed here — a true wonder of its time: Tashkent residents came specifically to “take a ride.” A café called “Veterok” with a view of the square operated on the roof but was closed shortly after opening.

In the 1960s–70s, TSUM was a true shopping center: people came here for shoes and coats, fabrics and chandeliers, musical instruments and televisions, dishes, carpets, and perfumes.

In 1993, TSUM was transformed into the joint-stock company “Toshkent Univermagi” and gradually lost its “central significance” among retail outlets. In 1998–2001, the building’s owners carried out a reconstruction, replacing the original glass facades with fashionable blue panels.

The road from the “Blue Domes” Boulevard was turned into a park alley and planted with trees. Today, restaurants operate on TSUM’s first floor, attracting visitors and those strolling along the boulevard.