Obchodní dům Prior (Hradec Králové) Department store

Welcome to Hradec Kralove, one of the most beautiful towns in Prague Suburb. Please stop for a moment and fully observe the space you are in. You are standing in front of a building that is very distinctive and dominant within the city picture. It is a construction that, both in size and in appearance, clippings the stamp of its time into the overall character of this part of the city. In front of you, you see a large department store, which, for many generations of the people of this city, represented the center of shopping, meetings and everyday activity.

Let us now look together at how this building was created and in what context it was inserted into the city. The building you see today was built between 1978 and 1981. To understand its origin, we must return to a time when the city was undergoing a major urban change. The then planners wanted to modernise and adapt the space of Prague Suburb to the new needs of the time. But this transformation had a price. In order to create this huge business complex, it was necessary to demolish several historic buildings that stood here earlier. It was a process that caused many discussions at the time, because the old tissue of the city gave way to the functionality and expansion of the then trading system.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself. Although the names of the particular architects who designed this project remained forgotten in time, their intention is still legible from the building. Look at the facade and see the total mass of the building. Notice how the building fills the space and how it defines the street boundary. At the time of its opening in 1981, it was one of the largest department stores in the entire state at that time. Its main advantage was a huge utility area. Imagine that the sales area itself was seven thousand two hundred square meters. That was an incredible space at the time, allowing a wide range of goods to be deployed in one place, making the building a real magnet for people from all over the region.

If we move in thoughts in the deeper history of this place, we cannot ignore the personalities involved in the operation of this house. One of the names associated with this place was František Tesař. People like him helped to control this complex organism that thousands of people flow daily. The operation of such a large centre required a precise organization and huge human capital. Imagine, at the time of the biggest boom, about 500 employees were working here. Each of them had a role in this colossal trading machine, from vendors to storekeepers to clerks.

Now I want to impress you with a few facts that will help you imagine the dimensions and significance of this place in times of its greatest glory. This building was not just a business, it was an investment in the order of millions. The total cost of its construction amounted to CZK 1,15 million. To realize what a success it was, let's look at the numbers from 1983. In this year, more than eight million customers visited the Royal Hradec and Pardubice department store Prior together. It is a number that may sound unimaginable today, but at that time Prior was a symbol of the availability of goods and a place where people went to not only shopping, but also to observe news and trends.

This building thus served as a centre of social events and the economic hub of the whole city. It was an era when one big department store replaced dozens of smaller specialised stores. People spent hours here, walking between shelves, looking for things that were not available in other stores. The atmosphere was full of anticipation and rush, making the building a living organism that was beating its customers to the rhythm of Prague Suburb.

But time passes, and people's needs change. The building, which was the peak of modernity in 1981, had to face new challenges from the market economy and changing purchasing behaviour. After decades of intensive traffic, there was a break. In 2019, sales under the current scheme were terminated and the building entered the reconstruction phase. It was clear that even this massive construction needed modernization in order to serve the inhabitants of Hradec Králové and its visitors again in the new century. This change is the natural cycle of urban life, where the old must give way to the new, so that the city can grow and flourish.

Now, if you look at the building in front of you again, try to see not only concrete and glass, but also all the millions of people who went through it. Imagine the thousands of employees who worked here for years and all the purchases that took place here. This building is witnessing the transition of one era to another, it is a monument to the planning time and also the basis for the future development of this part of the city.

Now that you know the story of this place, I suggest you go around the building and see how it fits into the vicinity of Prague Suburb. Notice the contrast between this large area and the surrounding buildings. It's a fascinating example of how the city changes and how different layers of history mingle.

Thank you for your attention and for seeing me on this short journey in time. I hope this view of the Prior department store helped you better understand the character of Hradec Králové. Now I invite you to explore the beauty of this city. We wish you a pleasant continuation journey and a beautiful day spent on our streets. Goodbye.