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Place where history
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Kimmel Quarter is a modern urban space where the city meadow and art events meet exceptional drinks and delicious food. The area stands out with its spaciousness, history, and blend of green and industrial zones.
Quarter & History
The Kimmel Quarter is one of the most historically rich areas in the city of Riga. However, before it became home to industrial buildings and the bustle of city life, it was the site of Riga’s place of execution.
Until 1815, the so-called Gallows Hill was located in the Kimmel Quarter. At the top of the hill stood the city’s gallows and a pillory, where in 1677, arsonists connected to the Great Fire of Riga were publicly punished.
This place of execution inspired the names of two city streets – Gallows Street (now Bruņinieku Street) and Pillar Street (now Stabu Street).
In 1815, the first brewery in Riga was established in Old Riga, on Mārstaļu Street. It was founded by entrepreneur P. R. Kymmel. Soon after, the brewery was expanded and modernized – in 1850, it moved to Bruņinieku Street, where a new steam-powered brewery was built and renamed “C. L. Kymmel” in honor of the founder’s son
By the 1920s and 1930s, the “Kymmel” brewery occupied nearly the entire block between Skolas, Bruņinieku, and Krišjānis Valdemārs Streets. The company became one of Latvia’s leading producers of beer and mineral water, gaining prestigious status through its exports.
In 1919, the Latvian Merchants’ Association “Augļu eksports” was founded on the quarter’s premises and was transformed into a joint-stock company in 1921. As production volumes grew, the shareholders decided to purchase the former “Kymmel” brewery, adopting its name as well.
However, “Kymmel” could not avoid the challenges of history. During World War I, its equipment was evacuated to Russia, and in 1941, the brewery was nationalized. After World War II, it was renamed “Riga Brewery,” and later, the “Riga Wine and Beer Combine.” Only after Latvia regained independence in 2001 did the company reclaim its historic name, “Kimmel Riga,” before relocating to Ādaži.
Today, the Kimmel Quarter is well known, as it once housed the popular bars VEST and Autentika – beloved gathering places for locals and visitors alike.
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