Powell’s Books grew from a Portland store founded by Walter Powell in 1971 and a Chicago bookstore opened by his son Michael into one of Portland’s best-known businesses. Its flagship, Powell’s City of Books in the Pearl District, occupies a full city block and is presented as the world’s largest independent new and used bookstore, with new, used, rare, and out-of-print titles across nine color-coded rooms. Under Michael Powell, the company expanded into branches and online bookselling early, launching internet access before Amazon.com. Still tied to the Powell family, it has also seen a notable labor history and remains a major literary destination.

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Portland, Oregon · USA