Powell’s City of Books – Portland, Oregon Travel Guide
Powell’s is far more than just a bookstore; it’s an essential part of the Portland experience. In a market dominated by the big chains, Powell’s refuses to conform. Powell’s is independently owned and sells new and used books side by side. It offers a huge selection of books while retaining the personal feel of a smaller store.
Powell’s City of Books (1005 W Burnside Portland, OR 97209) is the central location and trust me, the title is apt. The store is enormous – the largest independent bookstore in the world!
Powell’s occupies an entire city block and stands 4 stories high. Inside books are stacked to the ceilings. The store has a spacious coffee shop, and unlike other bookstores they don’t freak out if you like to munch snacks and peruse books simultaneously. On the top floor, you will also find an extensive collection of rare and collectible books. Powell’s also regularly features readings by prominent authors.
History
In 1970 undergraduate Michael Powell borrowed $3,000 and started his first bookstore in Chicago. He met with almost instant success. Within two months he had repaid the loan. But Michael needed a vacation.
Michael’s father, Walter Powell, came from Portland to help his son with the business. Walter enjoyed book-selling so much that when he returned to Portland a year later, he started his own store. In Portland the business exploded, and in 1979 Michael moved to Portland to join his father.
The business grew rapidly. In 1980 Walter and Michael moved the store to a larger location. A former used car dealership and car repair shop on 10th and Burnside became Powell’s City of Books.
Walter died in 1985, but his legacy continued to grow. In 1994 Powell’s launched a website. Within two years, Powell’s entire inventory was listed on the web.
Today Powell’s has seven locations, over a million titles and world-wide acclaim. It’s a favorite spot for Portlanders and a major attraction for those visiting the city [Editor's Note: If I accidentally wound up locked in a Powell's I could subsist for days on coffee and print.]
Atmosphere
The Powell’s attitude is extremely laid-back. The store is filled with earthy and intellectual types. The employees wear whatever they want, grow any length of hair but all have one thing in common: a passion for books.
There’s almost an anti technology sentiment at Powell’s, and anyone who sneaks noisy cell phones or beepers onto the premises is likely to be tackled. It’s a friendly environment though – just don’t disturb the reading!
People come for the huge selection, but they also like the fact that Powell’s is locally and independently owned. Portlanders take pride in Powell’s because it is something of an anomaly in the industry: a monster bookstore that hasn’t lost that personal touch.
Satellite Stores
Besides the City of Books main location, Powell’s has six other locations in the Portland area.
Specialty Stores
Powell’s Technical Books
333 NW Park Avenue, Portland, OR 97209
Powell’s Books for Cooks and Gardeners
3747 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Portland, OR 97214
Powell’s Travel Store
701 SW Sixth Avenue, Portland, OR 97204
Full Service Stores
Powell’s Books at PDX
7000 NE Airport Way Suite 2250, Portland, OR 97218
Powell’s in Beaverton
8725 SW Cascade Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97008
Powell’s on Hawthorne
3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Portland, OR 97214
You can also browse and shop online at www.powells.com.
Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our North America Insiders page.
Did you like this article?
Share it
Place a comment| Now you can also comment with your Facebook Account |
Rate this story
Follow Us
Subscribe to the BootsnAll articles RSS feed
Related articles found in:
BootsnAllRead similar items found across the BootsnAll Travel Network:
Useful (and Interesting) Links – Portland, Oregon, USA
Things To Do – Portland, Oregon, USA
Things to Do – Portland, Oregon Travel Guide
Links – San Francisco, California, USA
Hot springs might not sound too appealing in summer, but when the mercury dips they sound heavenly. Cherrye Moore takes us on a tour of 6 of the finest in the world.
[Read more]
What are the stupidest things travelers argue about? BootsnAll staff writer Jessica Spiegel talks about the ones she hates most, and includes a plea that we never argue about them again.
[Read more]
If you are wondering whether it would be worth it to bring your young children on a trip with you, reading Rachel Denning’s experiences and advice will likely convince you.
[Read more]
Somali pirates and Halloween pirates seem to get all the press these days, but there is a rich history out there of the real thing. Steve Bramucci takes us to five places where pirate tourism is easy to find.
[Read more]
Would you like to pretend you are Michael Palin, or perhaps someone else who gets to stay in historic colonial hotels in the East? Here’s a cheaper way, as Inga Kastrone takes us on a tour if 8 of the finest of these landmark properties.
[Read more]
