The Need for a New Shopping Centre
For a long time, the spa district lacked a shopping centre. The shortage of shops was felt not only by local residents but also by spa guests. Therefore, in the first half of 1968, a decision was made to construct a new shopping centre.
The project was entrusted to Konstruktiva Prague, which had construction facilities in Jáchymov near the so-called Old School. At the same time, the building was included in the “Action Z” system – a scheme in which the state or the municipality provided building materials and local residents carried out part of the work free of charge in their spare time.
Construction (1968–1970)
Construction began on 19 September 1968 with a budget of 3.5 million Kčs, excluding interior fittings. By the end of that year, the steel frame had been completed, internal partition walls had been built, and installation of the exterior panels had begun.
The opening was originally planned for mid-1970. Due to a slight delay, the building was completed only in October 1970. Costs increased to 4.5 million Kčs (again excluding interior fittings), which were installed during October and November of the same year.
The official opening ceremony took place on 1 December 1970.
Operation of the Shopping Centre
The first manager appointed was Stanislav Hlavatý, former secretary of the Municipal National Committee.
The ground floor housed the PRAMEN store with departments for drugstore goods and fruit, as well as a separate “Meat – Sausages” shop. The upper floor contained a confectionery, a delicatessen, and a snack bar.
In 1973, Josef Masák, head of the butcher’s shop, proposed making use of the unused basement. With the support of the local ROH trade union organisation, a sauna for employees was established there from 1 January 1974.
Privatisation after 1989
After the political regime change, the building was included in the first round of small-scale privatisation in 1991 with an initial asking price of 5 million crowns. The auction was exceptional in several respects:
– the first auction in the West Bohemian Region,
– the highest initial asking price in Czechoslovakia,
– the first female auctioneer in Czechoslovakia (JUDr. Černá).
The auction was unsuccessful, and the property therefore proceeded to the second round of privatisation, where participation of foreign capital was allowed.
New Owners and Decline
On 22 March 1995, the building was acquired by the company RAM, owned by Mr. Kasal and Mr. Vaniš. The building’s designation was resolved symbolically – surplus letters were removed from the name PRAMEN. The name TOLAR survived in popular usage.
With the development of large-scale retail stores in nearby Ostrov, profits gradually declined, leading to the closure of individual businesses and eventually the entire shopping centre.
Reconstruction
The unused building was purchased on 24 December 2013 by Léčebné lázně Jáchymov. It was converted into office space. During reconstruction, the surrounding walkway that had allowed the building to be circled was removed, but the original name TOLAR was restored.
