Stockmann was established by Georg Franz Stockmann, a merchant from Lübeck, Germany who took a job as a bookkeeper at a Nuutajärvi Glassworks store in Helsinki Senate Square.
In 1859, Stockmann became the manager of the store.
In 1862, Stockmann took control of the store and the Stockmann department store was officially established.
In 1902, the company was renamed G.F. Stockmann Aktiebolag.
The shareholders were Stockmann and his two sons, Karl and Frans.
Stockmann died in 1906.
In 1930, the Stockmann, Helsinki centre store was finished, complete with revolving doors, a soda fountain, and escalators.
Also in 1930, Stockmann bought a neighbouring book store, Akateeminen kirjakauppa (Swedish: Akademiska bokhandeln, lit.
 Academic Bookstore).
The first television transmission in Finland was broadcast from the department store in 1950.

In the 1950s, Stockmann opened a department store in Tampere.
Stockmann opened department stores in  Tapiola in 1981 and Turku in 1982.
In 1986, the first "Hullut Päivät" (lit.
 crazy days) sales were held.
The sales proved extremely popular and became a biannual event.
The first Stockmann stores outside of Finland opened in Moscow in 1989, and in Tallinn in 1993.
The northernmost department store, in Oulu, opened in 2001 and closed in 2017.

In 1989, Stockmann began operations in Russia, with the opening of a small stand in the GUM department store in Moscow.

In December 2007, Stockmann acquired Lindex, a Swedish clothing retailer with 331 outlets in the Nordic region and the Baltic states.

Stockmann sold Seppälä on 1 April 2015 to Seppälä's CEO Eveliina Melentjeff and her husband Timo Melentjeff.

In September 2015, Stockmann sold the Akateeminen kirjakauppa bookstore to Bonnier Books AB media.

In February 2016, Stockmann sold its operations in Russia to Reviva Holdings.
Stockmann continued to own and operate Nevsky Centre in Saint Petersburg until it was sold in January 2019.

On January 1, 2017, Stockmann sold Hobby Hall to SGN Group.

In 2017, the company sold its food division, Stockmann Herkku, to S Group for €27 million.

In May 2018, the company sold Kirjatalo, the building opposite their flagship store in Helsinki which houses the Academic Bookstore, for €108 million.

In March 2019, CEO Lauri Veijalaine resigned.

In June 2019, the company announced 150 layoffs.
Stockmann was established by Georg Franz Stockmann, a merchant from Lübeck, Germany who took a job as a bookkeeper at a Nuutajärvi Glassworks store in Helsinki Senate Square. In 1859, Stockmann became the manager of the store. In 1862, Stockmann took control of the store and the Stockmann department store was officially established. In 1902, the company was renamed G.F. Stockmann Aktiebolag. The shareholders were Stockmann and his two sons, Karl and Frans. Stockmann died in 1906. In 1930, the Stockmann, Helsinki centre store was finished, complete with revolving doors, a soda fountain, and escalators. Also in 1930, Stockmann bought a neighbouring book store, Akateeminen kirjakauppa (Swedish: Akademiska bokhandeln, lit. Academic Bookstore). The first television transmission in Finland was broadcast from the department store in 1950.
In the 1950s, Stockmann opened a department store in Tampere. Stockmann opened department stores in  Tapiola in 1981 and Turku in 1982. In 1986, the first "Hullut Päivät" (lit. crazy days) sales were held. The sales proved extremely popular and became a biannual event. The first Stockmann stores outside of Finland opened in Moscow in 1989, and in Tallinn in 1993. The northernmost department store, in Oulu, opened in 2001 and closed in 2017.
In 1989, Stockmann began operations in Russia, with the opening of a small stand in the GUM department store in Moscow.
In December 2007, Stockmann acquired Lindex, a Swedish clothing retailer with 331 outlets in the Nordic region and the Baltic states.
Stockmann sold Seppälä on 1 April 2015 to Seppälä's CEO Eveliina Melentjeff and her husband Timo Melentjeff.
In September 2015, Stockmann sold the Akateeminen kirjakauppa bookstore to Bonnier Books AB media.
In February 2016, Stockmann sold its operations in Russia to Reviva Holdings. Stockmann continued to own and operate Nevsky Centre in Saint Petersburg until it was sold in January 2019.
On January 1, 2017, Stockmann sold Hobby Hall to SGN Group.
In 2017, the company sold its food division, Stockmann Herkku, to S Group for €27 million.
In May 2018, the company sold Kirjatalo, the building opposite their flagship store in Helsinki which houses the Academic Bookstore, for €108 million.
In March 2019, CEO Lauri Veijalaine resigned.
In June 2019, the company announced 150 layoffs.
Stockmann