. The Academic Bookstore was founded in 1893. Its founders included and . Its goal was "to serve equally the needs of researchers and the general public, and which, fairly looking after the interests of domestic publishing, working to establish faster and more secure links with the foreign book market". In 1901 the bookstore moved to a new location on the same street, enabling it to sell 1200 titles simultaneously. Another move was made in 1910. Previously the chain has operated at
Lahti (1971–1983),
Jyväskylä (1983–1997),
Joensuu (1992–1997),
Lappeenranta (1980–1997),
Kuopio (1996–1997) and
Vaasa (1996–1997) with the intention of operating in all Finnish cities with higher education. These stores were transferred to
Suomalainen Kirjakauppa in 1998. Instead, Stockmann decided to focus on cities with its department stores. In 2015, Stockmann sold the chain to the Swedish Bonnier Group. == Retail outlets ==