The Museum the Grocery of Chekhov is located in the former shop of the merchant Moiseev. Pavel Chekhov, Anton Chekhov`s father, rented it from 1869 to 1874. Downstairs there is a grocery store and a dining room, and on top are located the living rooms where the Chekhov family lived. The museum was opened here in 1975. The rooms have recreated the atmosphere of the 19th century, as during the life of the Chekhovs.
On the Chekhov`s Grocery there is a sign "Tea, coffee, sugar and other colonial goods". In front of the entrance there is a monument to Thick and Thin – the heroes of one of Chekhov`s stories. In addition to groceries, there was a pharmacy, and they also sold alcoholic beverages: wine and vodka. Previously, there was a sign at the entrance "Takeaway and drinking", but now it is not there.
Anton traded in his father`s shop from an early age, when it became possible. Then he remembered: "As a child, I didn`t have a childhood at all." There is a desk near the window. Anton had to know where the goods were in the shop, take money for the goods sold and make an entry in the sales book.
On the ground floor there is a dining room where the Chekhov family ate. Fedosya Yakovlevna Dolzhenko and her son lived in the next room. This is Anton Chekhov`s aunt. She was very much loved in the family; she knew a lot of stories.
On the second floor of Chekhov`s Grocery there are living rooms. They are more spacious, in comparison with Chekhov`s House. There are a chest and chairs near the stairs. Next there are two children`s rooms. In one of them there are dolls and textbooks, and in the other room there is an exhibition dedicated to the friends and relatives of the Chekhov family. Behind the children`s rooms there is a pass-through parents` bedroom and then a large living room.
In the living room, the Chekhov family spent evenings and received guests. There is a piano near the wall. Daughter Maria or the head of the family Pavel Chekhov played piano. Small performances were also staged here. The author and performer of many of them was Anton Chekhov. In the living room there are paintings painted by Nikolai Chekhov, Anton Chekhov`s brother.
