obchodní dům Prior (Pardubice) Department store

The Prior department store, located on the Masaryk Square in Pardubice, is a historical monument from the 1970s, which represents an important building influenced by brutalism and post-modernism. This department store was the first of its kind in the Eastern Bohemian Region and ceremonially opened on 23 August 1974. The focus is not only on its architectural structure, but also on its history, which includes changes of owners and reconstruction into the current state.

The Prior department store was established in the years 1971- 1974 as the first department store in the East Bohemia region. It was opened in 1974 and offered goods which were often difficult to obtain, including import products. The construction was designed by Andela Drasharova and redesigned by architect Rozna Nártová. At that time there was a socialist economy in Czechoslovakia with a planned economy, which also affected the development of construction and infrastructure.

Architecturally, the Prior department store is characterised by a brutalist style with octagonal windows. Its red-orange color of the outer shell refers to the Pardubice tradition of honey gingerbread and the color of the Pardubice character. Originally, the building contained a unique glass entrance with a trigger portal, which disappeared during the construction of the Afi Palace shopping centre in 2008. The interior was progressive for its time with elements as the first escalators in Pardubice and modern air conditioning.

The history of the owner of the Prior department store is marked by several changes. After the opening in 1974, the house was state property until 1992 when it became owned by K-Mart. It was sold in 1996 to Tesco, which operated until 2019. During this period Tesco began to dispose of his department stores and the former Pardubice Prior was the last one in possession. In 2019, the house was sold to Atrium Palace Pardubice, which reconstructed it and connected with the nearby shopping gallery.

Key events in the history of the Prior department store include its opening ceremony in 1974, the creation of the Afi Palace shopping centre next to the building in 2008 and the reconstruction and connection with the Palace Pardubice shopping centre in 2019. The building won the city award even in the international architectural competition in Montevideo, although its red-orange color was controversial among communist officials.

Today, the Prior department store is part of the Pardubice Palace shopping centre. After reconstruction, which lasted until the summer of 2022, the interior was completely modernized and connected to the neighbouring shopping gallery. On the ground floor of the building there is still a grocery store and other shops, while two above ground floors have become part of Pardubice Palace. The opening ceremony after reconstruction took place on 15 and 16 September 2022.

The Prior Business House is not only an architectural monument, but also a witness to the history of Pardubice and its transformation over the years. His visit offers a view of the past and the present and is an important place to understand the cultural and economic development of the region. For those interested in history and architecture, visiting this place is not only fun, but also educational.