Ligovsky Ave., 47, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 191040
Talks that rock is supposedly dead and has no future didn’t start yesterday, and much has already been said on the subject, but looking at it — it’s alive!
Since 1993, in Saint Petersburg at Ligovsky 47 (opposite the Moscow railway station), in the second courtyard past the dumpster, there has been a rock store called "Castle Rock." The name was given to the store for a reason: all these years it has valiantly held its ground, remaining a true rock castle, a fortress that the enemy cannot take, but which hospitably opens its doors to anyone who comes in peace.
Many different events have taken place around the “Kostyl” (“Kastyl”) area — as the store is popularly nicknamed — since its opening in 1993. Not all of them pleased the local residents. Regular complaints about noise, loud music, and young people drinking alcohol almost led to the store’s closure. Not without the help of its famous clients, among whom are Shevchuk, Grebenshchikov, Chizh, Garkusha, Gorshenev, Castle Rock managed to defend itself before the Central District administration. Nowadays, local peace is zealously guarded by special store employees. However, the possibility to gather has not disappeared because of this, and rock music fans periodically make use of this opportunity.
The oldest in Russia and largest in Europe, "Castle Rock" is not just a store but a place for informal hangouts. It’s interesting to come here not only in search of a favorite band’s album or new releases, but also just to meet friends, chat, look at rock treasures in the display windows, and connect with legends, since “Kastyl” is a kind of museum, similar to the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
In the display windows are exhibited handprints, personal belongings, autographs, and souvenirs owed to, say, Vladimir Holstinin and Vitaly Dubinin (“Aria”). You can also see domestic rock stars in person: not only at numerous autograph sessions organized by the powerful owner of “Kastyl,” Leonid Fridman, personally acquainted with many “luminaries,” but also casually, like ordinary customers, while browsing for the next item.
Aleksey Gorshenev (“Kukryniksy”), Artur Berkut, Sergey Mavrin, Ilya Chert (“Pilot”), Knyaz and Gorshok (“Korol i Shut”), Yuri Shevchuk, Boris Grebenshchikov — who hasn’t descended into the mysterious depths of the old Petersburg basement! Some regulars swear they have seen foreign stars with their own eyes, such as Ian Gillan and Tilo Wolff. Who knows, anything can happen; after all, “Kastyl” is not a haunted castle, real people come here.
Undoubtedly, "Castle Rock" is a cult and social place, but first and foremost, it is a store. Coming here, you want to leave all your money — the assortment is that rich! Today, the store includes two rooms. You enter the first and find yourself in a dungeon with chains on the ceiling and a skeleton in the corner. Chains of pendants clink and sway, and the sellers behind wooden counters conjure magic, while explosions of heavy rock blast from the speakers. The entire world rock culture is represented here in biographical books, audio and video discs, patches, and sheet music collections. You can connect with this culture not only indirectly, through attributes, but also directly: “Kastyl” sells tickets to concerts of domestic and foreign performers, often without extra charges. Both rooms are full of not only spiritual but also, so to speak, physical nourishment: you can dress from head to toe like a biker, goth, punk, or just a rock music lover. Stylish pants, studs, leather jackets, corsets, bandanas, backpacks, bags and totes, wallets, lighters, notebooks, and pens — it’s hard to think of an item not represented in the rock-context assortment. You can even buy rarities like audio cassettes or old posters and flyers. Some products are made on-site by store employees in special rooms. If you don’t find something on the first try, friendly and knowledgeable sellers will guide and show you everything, try things on, provide historical background, joke, and laugh with you.
The rock fortress withstood the siege of the turbulent nineties, the crisis-ridden 2000s, and you can be sure it will endure many more conflicts. “I’m sure you’ve been here before. I’m sure. I never forget faces. Come here, let me shake your hand. And say something to you: I recognized you by your walk even before I got a good look at your face. You couldn’t have chosen a better day to return to Castle Rock…” — wrote Stephen King in his novel “Needful Things.” Undoubtedly, he meant a completely different Castle Rock, which, apart from the name, has nothing in common with the little fortress on Ligovka. However, it’s said with absolute precision: everyone somehow familiar with rock music has at least once been to “Kastyl.” And on any day, whenever you come here, you are welcome.
Sources:
https://steeper.fandom.com/ru/wiki/Рок-магазин_Castle_Rock
