The Path of Powell’s Books
Powell’s Books has traveled an arduous path since the pandemic forced us to close our stores. We are climbing the mountain ahead, but the outcome is uncertain. We have decided to no longer sell our books on Amazon’s marketplace. Business with Amazon became more costly.
History of Powell’s
Powell’s was founded in 1971 by Walter Powell. His son Michael joined in 1979. Michael bought the bookstore from his father in 1982.
Current Challenges
On Labor Day, our flagship location in downtown Portland will be closed due to a worker strike over wages and benefits. Workers accuse us of not negotiating in good faith on better wages and affordable benefits.
Stand for Independent Bookstores
Powell’s City of Books occupies an entire city block, housing around one million books. It is the largest used and new bookstore in the world. We will not place certain controversial books on our shelves, following a backlash. We understand that in some communities, Amazon and large retail chains are the only option. But we must take a stand regarding our local community and independent bookstores around the U.S.