The term ‘commerce in the times of the Polish People’s Republic’ brings back memories of empty shelves (or filled with only vinegar and mustard), Pewex shops and ‘organising’ different commodities. However, it can be seen as a paradox that in years 1945–1989, many interesting commercial buildings were built. In this article, a subjective choice of the most interesting commercial buildings of Warsaw is presented and their post-transformation history is briefly summarised. The authors consider the disturbing tendency to displace post-war architecture from public spaces and attempt to identify the possible causes of this situation.
