Economic and legal aspects of Zhytomyr public food establishments in the beginning of the XX century

Abstract

The foundation of the modern municipal economy in Zhytomyr city started during XIX–XX centuries. Industry, trade, financial institutions as well as the hospitality sector were actively developed during that period. Economic and legal aspects of the food establishments were regulated by the Regulation on taverns of 1863, according to which «tavern establishments» included hotels, courtyards, furnished apartments, rooms, restaurants, coffee houses, cafes, cafeterias, tents for rest and other establishments with the right to «hold a table» and to serve drinks. According to the legislation, a «tavern fee» was set for specified enterprises and the amount of which was determined by a special commission of the City Duma. The analysis of Економіка, управління та адміністрування 94 archival data on the emission of permits for the opening of taverns as well as received patents allowed to the authors of the article to summarize the list of 5 restaurants, 25 restaurants of the third category selling alcoholic beverages, 9 buffets, 5 Rhine cellars, 6 cellars of Russian wines, 1 beer tavern, 67 beer drinking stalls, which were operated in 1912 in the city of Zhytomyr. On the basis of archival information on the payments of the restaurant fees in 1913, the article forms unique lists of restaurants of the first and third categories; cellars, sideboards and pub-type beer benches; as well as drinking beer stalls by indication their owners and locations in the city. The division of taverns into groups (categories) and the procedure for determining the tavern fee for each of the groups are analyzed. The role of restaurants and other food establishments in or near hotels is emphasized. The original receipt of the restaurant fee located in the hotel «France» is illustrated. The author comes to conclusion that an the beginning of the First World War the number of taverns was constantly decreasing and later the Soviet power led to the final cessation of private food establishments.

Keywords

• history of zhytomyr hospitality
• tavern
• tavern fee
• patent