Respublika is a Russian bookstore chain, and this guide to Respublika Moscow explains what it sells and why a visitor should check its status before going. The first store opened in Moscow in 2006 on 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya Street, with a new format that combined books, music, films, art albums, stationery and gifts.
The chain was one of the largest independent book chains in Russia until 2020, when financial problems forced it to close or hand over most stores, and it later went through bankruptcy and several changes of owner. A register entry from August 2026 reports another change of ownership. Because the store list is changing, the sections below focus on the format, what to buy and how to confirm that a store is open.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Республика |
|---|---|
| Address | 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya Street 10, Moscow (the first store of the chain; the current status of this store was not verified) |
| District | Tverskoy |
| Metro | Mayakovskaya (Line 2, green, listed as the nearest station for the original store; the walking time and exit were not verified) |
| Opening hours | Hours vary by store and were not verified; an older directory page listed the original store as open around the clock, which should not be relied on, so check the official site before visiting (as of October 2026 – check the official site). |
| Best time to visit | Weekday afternoons are usually calmer than evenings and weekends, and hours vary by store, so check the closing time before you go. |
| Recommended duration | 20–40 minutes |
| Website | respublica.ru |
| Last updated | October 9, 2026 |
Why Visit Respublika?
Respublika is a useful stop for stationery, art albums, music on vinyl or CD, board games and small gifts, in a format that treats books as part of a lifestyle shop. The chain’s app lists categories such as books, office goods, vinyl and CD, video games, home and garden, hobby goods and goods for children.
For a visitor who does not read Russian, albums, stationery and gifts are the easiest purchases, and the stores have hosted concerts, signings and lectures, according to older directory pages. Because the chain has been through bankruptcy and ownership changes, confirm that a store is open before making a trip.
Highlights of Respublika
Stationery and gifts
The stores sell notebooks, office goods and gifts alongside books, which make easy souvenirs. Look for the stationery tables. Check the price on the shelf label.
Tip: Choose notebooks and prints that need no Russian.
Art albums and illustrated books
Art and photography albums are among the easiest books to enjoy without reading Russian. Check the language on the back cover.
Tip: Look for albums on Moscow and Russian art.
Vinyl and CDs
The app lists vinyl and CD among its main categories, and the original format combined books with music and films. Check which records are in stock in the store you visit.
Tip: Ask whether a record can be played before buying.
Games, hobby and children's goods
Video games, board games, hobby kits and children's goods are listed among the catalog categories. Check the age range on the box.
Tip: Use a translation app on the box for rules and language.
The original store on 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya
The first store opened in 2006 at 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya Street 10, near Mayakovskaya. Its current status was not verified. Check the official site before going.
Tip: Confirm the store is open before making a special trip.
A chain in transition
After financial problems in 2020, a bankruptcy and several changes of owner, the chain's stores have been reduced and the brand was bought by new owners, the latest recorded in August 2026. Check the official site for the current store list.
Tip: Do not rely on older directory addresses.
Atmosphere
A Respublika store is a lifestyle bookshop with high shelves of books, tables of stationery and gifts, record bins and corners for games and hobby goods. The sounds are background music and the quiet browsing of customers, and the atmosphere is more like a concept store than a library.
Labels and signs are in Russian, and staff may speak little English, so a translation app helps.
History of Respublika
The first Respublika store opened in Moscow in 2006 at 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya Street 10, with a format that combined books, music, films, art albums, stationery and gifts. Until 2020 the chain was one of the largest independent book chains in Russia, with about 40 stores, and it was owned by Vadim Dymov.
In 2020 financial problems forced the company to close most stores or hand them to the Chitai-Gorod and Bukvoed chains, and the remaining nine were transferred to the management of a franchisee. The company filed for bankruptcy, and in 2021 reports said that control passed to the Kazakhstan businessman Igor Deriglazov, who planned to revive the chain and open a new store in Moscow. Another buyer, Dmitry Aliev, later acquired the trademarks, the app and the website, and the company was declared bankrupt. A register entry from August 2026 reports a further change of ownership.
The dates and the order of events differ between sources, the current number of stores should be checked on the official site, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified.
Tickets and Booking for Respublika
Payment. Cash in rubles is the most reliable way to pay. Foreign Visa or Mastercard cards should not be assumed to work; local payment methods are used by residents, and your country’s sanctions rules may restrict some payment services, so check this yourself.
Checkout and bags. Stores have staffed tills; self-checkout was not verified. Bags are usually sold at the till.
Finding stores. Use the official site respublica.ru or a map app, and confirm that a store is open, since the chain’s store list has changed several times.
How to Get to Respublika
Because the store list is changing, there is no single route to give. The original store was on 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya Street, listed near Mayakovskaya on the green Line 2, but its current status was not verified.
- By Metro: check the store page on the official site for the nearest station.
- By taxi: use the address from the official site.
Accessibility
Accessibility varies by store; step-free entrances were not verified for individual stores, so check the details or ask staff.
Food Nearby
The streets around the original store, near Mayakovskaya, have many cafes and restaurants; the exact venues were not verified.
What to Bring
Bring cash in rubles, a translation app for the labels and a bag for purchases.
Photography Rules
Rules for photography in stores were not verified; it is polite to ask staff before photographing shelves or customers.
Family Suitability
Suitable for families, with children's goods, games and picture books; stroller access was not verified for individual stores.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Check on the official site that a store is open, since the chain has lost many stores since 2020.
- Do not rely on older directory addresses, which may list closed stores.
- Choose albums, stationery and gifts if you do not read Russian.
- Compare the store with Chitai-Gorod, which took over several former Respublika stores.
- Carry cash in rubles in case a card is declined.
- Combine a visit with a walk along Tverskaya Street if the original store is open.
Where to Find Respublika in Moscow
Respublika has branches across the city, so there is no single address to list. To find the closest one, search on Yandex Maps or Google Maps from your hotel or metro station.
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FAQ: Respublika
What is Respublika?
A Russian bookstore chain that combines books, music, stationery and gifts.
Is it still open in Moscow?
Some stores may be, but the chain has gone through bankruptcy and owner changes, so check the official site.
When did the first store open?
In 2006 on 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya Street.
Can I buy books in English?
This was not verified; most books are in Russian.
Can I pay with a foreign card?
Acceptance of foreign cards cannot be assumed; carry cash in rubles, and check your own country's sanctions rules, which may restrict some payment services.
Is it the same as Chitai-Gorod?
No, they are separate chains, although some former Respublika stores went to Chitai-Gorod.
Do staff speak English?
Not reliably; a translation app helps.
Where can I find a store?
On the official site respublica.ru or a map app.
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Last updated: October 9, 2026.
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About this guide: AI assistance and accuracy
This guide is created with the help of AI and is based on official sources where available. Mistakes can still happen. Opening hours, prices, rules and other details are given to the best of our knowledge as of the date shown and can change without notice. It offers general recommendations only, not professional, legal or travel advice. Please confirm important details with the official source before you travel; you are responsible for your own plans and decisions.
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