The Stockmann department store is a culturally significant business building and department store located in the centre of Helsinki, Finland. It is one of many department stores owned by the Stockmann corporation. Annually, about 17 million customers visit the store and it is thus the largest department store in Finland. It is also the largest department store in the Nordic countries in terms of area and total sales.[1] The store is known for carrying all the internationally recognised luxury brands, and Stockmann's enjoys a reputation as the primary high-end department store in Finland. "Stockmannin Herkku", the food and beverage department located at the basement level, is renowned for the quality and choice of its foodstuffs. The Stockmann logo represents a set of escalators, which are commonly, but wrongly believed represent the first escalators in Finland. The first escalators in Finland were installed in the Forum department store, Turku (1926)[2]
Especially the clock at the main entrance, colloquially "Stockan kello" ("Stocky's clock"), has become a symbol of Helsinkian city culture as a popular meeting place.
The department store was designed by Sigurd Frosterus and built in 1930. It is part of the Gazelle block in the district of Kluuvi. The new expansion of the building is based on Sigurd Frosterus's plans.
In 1989, the Argos house located in the same block was joined into the Stockmann building. During the renovation, only the facade of the Argos house was preserved. Because of this, Stockmann expanded to fill the entire block bordered by the streets of Mannerheimintie, Aleksanterinkatu, Keskuskatu and Pohjoisesplanadi. The department store has seven floors, not counting the basement and the eighth floor, which contains other businesses.
A further expansion of the department store began in 2007. The project is called Kaikkien aikojen Stockmann – Alla tiders Stockmann ("Stockmann of all times"). After its completion in 2010, the retail area will increase by 10,000 square metres (110,000 sq ft) to 50,000 square metres (540,000 sq ft), and the store will be among the largest in Europe.
The department store is being expanded both underground and at the centre of the store. The current indoor courtyard will be covered, adding 1,500 square metres (16,000 sq ft) of retail space to the sixth to eighth floors. At the eighth and topmost floor, there will be a food court, with seating for 950 customers and views of the lower floors.
In 2008, 200,000 cubic metres (7,100,000 cu ft) of rock will be blown out from underground. At the deepest point, the digging will extend to 30 metres (98 ft).
During the building work, the elevator and escalator systems of the old department store will be clarified. After the renovation, there will be 40 renovated elevators and escalators. Also, the lighting and air conditioning will be improved.
The new garage triples the parking capacity to 600 cars. The 3-floor hall has connections to Ruoholahdenkatu as part of the central maintenance tunnel, and to the junction of Kalevankatu and Mannerheimintie.
The size of the grocery department will double to about 5000 square meters.
The renovation will cost about 125 million Euro and is projected to increase the annual sales by 50 million Euro.
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