Inside the World’s Largest Independent Bookstore: 8 Things to Know about Powell’s City of Books

Have you ever wondered what it's like to step into the world's largest independent bookstore? Or maybe you’re already a regular at Powell’s City of Books. Either way, join us we journey inside this Portland favorite, and along the way I’ll share the top 8 things every book lover must know about Powell’s City of Books.

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Powell’s City of Books is in the Pearl District in Portland. We took the bus to Powell’s City of Books because it’s in a lively part of town without dedicated parking. Plus, that way you can explore more of town!

Here are the top 8 things to know about Powell’s City of Books:

Number 1 is that Powell’s is indeed the world’s largest independent bookstore! It’s massive and can be a little intimidating to navigate. It’s organized into color-coded rooms with lots of signage, and the staff recommendations can also help you narrow down your book list.

Number 2 is that the building that now houses the world’s largest independent bookstore used to be a car dealership. If you look carefully, you can see the words “Used Car Department” and “Parts Department” stamped on a couple of beams on the main floor.

For number 3, part of what makes Powell’s special is the huge number of events, from children’s story times to author talks.

Number 4 is that there’s a special part of the store for rare books, and it has reduced hours (10am - 5pm as of the making of this video) and limited capacity, so plan ahead if you’d like to include it in your visit!

For number 5, don’t miss the coffee shop on site! There’s nothing like sitting down with a book and a cozy mug of tea.

Number 6 is that Powell’s Books has a lot more than books, so this is the place to go if you’re looking for gifts, particularly those with a Pacific Northwest vibe, like a stuffed banana slug or a meditating Sasquatch.

Number 7 is that Powell’s Books sells both new and used books, so you have the chance to find deals and cool old titles that are hard to find elsewhere.

Number 8 is that Powell’s City of Books is the mothership, but there are actually two other Powell’s bookstores in the Portland area. One is Powell’s Books on Hawthorne Boulevard in SE Portland, and the other is at Cedar Hills Crossing in Beaverton.

One day I stepped out of Powell’s Books on Hawthorne to find what turned out to be the annual Krampus parade underway across the street. Hawthorne Boulevard is a lively street lined with quirky restaurants and shops. You never quite know what you might find! For our video on Hawthorne Boulevard, click the link here:    • Portland’s Quirky Hawthorne Neighborhood |...  

Here’s a preview of Powell’s Books on Hawthorne.

Like at the downtown location, you’ll find a fabulous set of staff recommendations. There’s also a coffee shop on site, and an array of board games and other gifts beyond the books themselves.