Powell's City of Books
Category: Bookstores [Edit]
Neighborhood: Downtown1005 W Burnside St
Portland, OR 97209 (503) 228-4651
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
336 Reviews for Powell's City of Books
I'm going to join the masses and give this place 5 stars. I could spend all day walking around looking at all the books that need to be read!
My mom told me about Powell's probably before I could even walk. As a librarian, I'm sure she was trying to subtley influence a love of books into me.
Fast forward 23 or 24 years. I move from Seattle to Portland. It takes me 6 whole months to make it to Powell's. OH MY GOD, WHY?! It is Valhalla for book-lovers. Best Bookstore Ever (BBE). Hands down. Books galore, on subjects you've never even thought about! Browsing to last for hours and hours and days and months and years! Late nights! New books shelved next to old books! Relevant, cheap used copies!
Now that I'm back in Seattle I yearn for the bookstore I love. It's like having love ripped from my life. Oh Powell's, I love you so....
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Karen C said it best: Totally and completely overwhelming.
That can be a great thing, or it can definitely give you the deer-in-the-headlights feeling. Where to go? This floor? This room? This aisle?
I knew I had to check out Powells. Nobody goes to Portland without checking out Powells. It's just an unspoken rule. So, I went. Twice. Both times I felt completely overwhelmed by the sheer volumes of books. I hadn't any clue where to begin. And I froze. My brain couldn't come up with a single author's name. So, I just started browsing and wandering around.
That's when I saw something extremely awesome: a book for sale by a local Portland writer. I picked it up and brought it over to show my guy. "Look here," I insisted. "You gonna buy it?" he wanted to know. "Oh, no. Not for $16." But again I thought it was cool to find work here from local writers. I dig that.
For some reason, I thought Powells would be less expensive than your B&N or Borders. Perhaps I wasn't doing this right - you know, experiencing Powells for what everyone finds to be such phantasmagoric bliss.
Where's the phantasmagoric bliss? Yes, I wanted to know. To me, this appeared like any other book store (minus the comforting "sit and stay a while" feel), with entirely way too much stock.
Then again, it's a book store. And I love to read. How can one go wrong here? Plus, NO SALES TAX!
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
So, it must be a rite of passage to Yelp Powells, since over 300 of us have done it.
Those 331 other people have undoubtedly said most everything there is to say.
But I'll give up my favorite Powell's secret (although not really about the Burnside location, its still a good one): If you are traveling through PDX, and want to order a book, have it sent to the airport store and pick it up on your way to the plane. I've done this several times, the book has always been there waiting for me and saves me a trip. You'll need to order several days in advance, but the service is free.
Cool, huh?!
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
I heard so much about Powell's that I kind of expected it to be some sort of castle made of books rising out of the city. Instead, its unassuming outside hides the wonders found inside. Inside, all the rooms are sorted into colors, making this ridiculously huge place relatively easy to browse. I was only there for an hour because of a time constraint, but I'm definitely dedicating a day to it the next time I go. I loved the fact that they had used books, making my reading habit a little easier to afford. All in all, its a booklovers paradise.
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
Wow. Even though I can't afford (money and space) to buy anymore books, I had to pay a visit to this legendary bookstore. And I was in Portland for the Law Librarian conference, after all.
Cal was not having as good a time, but he humored me. I wanted to buy so many books. So many books that I've only heard about. So many books that were heavily discounted. So many books that were just calling my name. But I walked out with nothing. Nothing but a broken heart and hope that there will be a time that I can shop to my heart's content at Powell's.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (3)
Cool (4)
Oh my. As good as it gets for book lovers. I picked up a copy of Vincent and Mary Price's cookbook as a gift for someone. You see we have a moratorium on ME buying any more old cookbooks for ME, I have many. How many? I think I stopped counting @ 1800 or so. But I digress. This store had three copies of this marvelous old cookbook. Simply put, this is the promised land.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (3)
Cool (4)
I heart books...
I like Powell's a lot, it sure beats the chain stores like Barnes and Nobles and Borders. I wish we had more privately owned book stores. With the easiness of Amazon and the shear volume and size of B & N, and Borders, private sellers don't have a chance anymore.
Powell's is an endangered species, and a large one of that. I urge anyone who visits Portland and loves books to check it out. It's open to 11pm for books sake! You have no excuses not to go.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (2)
Um, everytime I come to Portland, I fall in love again with Powell's. It's one of those things: if Seattle had one, it wouldn't matter much - but it's just so unique - that it's worth the trip alone.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (3)
Hello Powell's, my old friend,
Ive come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of POWELLS.
I think of you often, so often in fact I've ruined a perfectly good song for you. I'm wondering If I might persuade you to come and organize strand books in NYC? You can bring whomever you please, just please please bring the Dewey Decimal Classification or whatever system you geniuses used to make powells the lovely well organized bookstore that haunts me (in a good way)
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
Friends: "Oh, we have to go in here."
Me: "What? No way, I can't buy anything, I already have like four unread books in my queue."
Friends: "Okay, well then just browse with us."
Me, hesitantly: "Well, alright."
(45 minutes later)
Cashier: "That'll be $74.98 please."
People thought this was:
Funny (3)
Cool (1)
This is one of the biggest and best stores for books ever. I think its a city block and 3 stories high. This store is more organized than Strand in NY. The organization is pretty amazing with rooms color coded and directories everywhere.
Would have loved to stay all day, but my time was short. Lots of cool nick nacks too.
Would I go back? You bet your pastrami I would!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (2)
Cool (1)
Going to Powell's for the first time is like driving a Honda civic and being hit by a Mack truck.
You're a goner- be it for the afternoon, the day, or from your 'former' favorite literary establishment.
The stacks of books in the rows upon rows of shelves organized by color and spread throughout levels and levels and levels of a whole city block is daunting at first. Where do you even begin? How do you find your way out? What if you have to go to the loo? Do you look like an obvious tourist with your mouth hanging open and Portlanders strolling around you?
And before you even think of answering these questions, something catches your eye, and then something else, and then a tag to look in the rare books room way upstairs... suddenly any hesitation is gone, replaced by intrigue and maybe a hint of that childhood joy you've gone so long without.
It's too late to swerve or apply the breaks, you've just been hit my friend.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (3)
Cool (3)
Totally and completely overwhelming. I loved it! I wish we had a place like this in the Bay Area. I will be back.
People thought this was:
Cool (2)
It's a big book store! Me and my fellow stopped by on our weekend trip to Portland. I wasn't too impressed, but, maybe I would be if books were my thing :)
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Oh Powell's, how I love you...
Before I'd moved to Portland, I heard of Powell's and just couldn't wait to explore its shelves and shelves full of books. When I first arrived there I was slightly overwhelmed, but that feeling was overpowered by a feeling of joy, the feeling of being surrounded by probably more than a ton of literature, literally. Whenever I get a craving to buy a book, or three, I always make Powell's my first stop. The only time I can remember not being able to find the book I wanted was when I was looking for Alan Moore's Watchmen right after the preview for the movie came out. But them being out of stock of that was an understandable happening because we all know how well books sell when people find out a movie is being made of it.
I was very surprised to find that Powell's had an rather large section dedicated to comics/graphic novels as well as a good sized role-playing game section. In fact, after visiting a game store in Southeast I came to find that I liked Powell's selection even better than the store that specialized in those sort of books.
The sheer number of books in itself is a reason to visit Powell's, even if you're not into books. It's an amazing sight.
"I Got Lost in The City of Books!"
Before I stepped foot inside Powell's City of Books, I thought to myself, "What's the big deal about Powell's? There are Barnes & Nobles and Borders bookstores a stone's throw away in any direction of me in New York. I doubt there's anything about Powell's that will impress me." Boy was I DEAD WRONG!
The color coded rooms inside Powell's make searching for titles easy, but it's even easier getting lost aisles of books while browsing titles and reading through previously unknown of books. My hours inside the store fly by as I find myself delightfully sucked into reading, reading, and some more reading.
This is hands down my favorite bookstore. Hailing from New York, I must admit that although NYC has plenty of bookstores, none compare to Powell's, the world's largest independent bookstore chain.
My only complaints are that they need more areas to sit and that the cafe (Coffee Room) was not that impressive.
Powell's is the reason why one should NOT solely rely on Amazon.com or BN.com in browsing titles. WIth uber-convenient store hours of 9am-11pm, there's no excuse not to check out the Mount Hood-sized selection of new & used (also rare) titles! Did I mention their book prices are on the cheap too? There's plenty of bike racks up front too.
You can check inventory and shop online with them at powells.com.
It sounds silly, but Powell's is my favorite tourist site in Stumptown.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (3)
If you don't have a huge block of time to spend in the isles you'll hate this place - it's the kind of place you need to get lost in and only resurface with a year's worth of reading material....
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
When I was a little kid, my parents liked to censor what my little brother and I watched on the TV. But, they wouldn't censor what we read. (I didn't read harlequin novels at 8, people, come on now).
I remember walking through the different colored rooms, holding my mommy or daddy's hand. The smell of paper and dust intoxicate your nostrils. There is something about this place that absolutely captivates the soul. I haven't been in in quite a while, perhaps years (admits shamefully). But, I can't go in without spending at least 1/2 a day here (as Connie C. mentioned).
It brings back a lot of memories for me as my grandparents used to come up from California and my grandmother would say, "OK kiddos, 2 things I'm buying each of you: a pair of pants and a book."
I bought THE GIVING TREE from here. I love that book.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
Bookstores are a great way to observe hipsters in their natural habitat!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (3)
Cool (3)
I've never been to the physical location, but when I want to buy a book, I always check http://www.Powells.com before Amazon. They have an impressive selection of books, often at a discount to retail, and you can buy their used books online as well.
If you're in the Portland area, their inventory system actually tells you which of their stores the book you're interested in is located. How cool is that?
Their customer service is top-notch too. I received a damaged book and they sent out a replacement immediately. I didn't even have to send back the first book so they could verify the problem before they fixed the issue. Anyone need a copy of Angels and Demons with a broken spine?
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (5)
Coming to Powell's was a pilgrimage for me. Is that the appropriate metaphor? Probably. "Powell's is a cathedral of books"? Perhaps "Powell's is a Roman orgy of books"? Or "Powell's is a rapturous Apocalypse of books"? Anyway, I came to Portland for four days and visited Powell's three times. I selected my hotel due in part to its three-block proximity to the bookstore.
I rank The Strand in New York and Powell's in Portland as 1 and 1a atop my list of favorite bookstores. The Strand may SLIGHTLY edge it out. It is cheaper but more disorganized; they have more and better used books and consequently you are more likely to encounter a great "find." Powell's is more expensive but neat and clean, and if you want new-ish, recently published books you will probably find plenty from which to choose.
Of course, the sheer size is also a delight. It took me a while to get the hang of the color-coding. How many floors were there? I can't quite remember. There were staircases and mezzanines and false basements everywhere. I spent a total of about eight hours in this store and purchased twelve books (and I only had a carry-on bag with me...thank you, USPS flat-rate box). I could have bought more but even *I* have some shame when it comes to book-gluttony.
I've been to The Strand twice now, so I'll have to come back to Powell's to even it out. I would consider flying to Portland just for the bookstore. Seriously.
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
Bats! It must be bat country again, and I was a man without a swatter... Maybe it wasn't the bats...could it be the rag soaked with ether that found its way to my mouth? Actually, it must be the mescaline, it was kicking in and kicking in strong...my God, man, there is nothing more terrifying as a crazed man in the midst of a drug binge tumbling down the aisles of bound paper in this disfigured store with no end.
They were watching me, all of them, with their quasi educated stares, down their nose they looked at this boundless individual, whose face was melting with the terror of trying to keep his act together. I managed to mumble something slightly coherent to the information flunky, who despite my obvious mindset, was more then happy to assist. For all I knew she was fingering a big red security button, and within 30 seconds, twenty muscled bound robo cops, filled with testosterone and steroids, would come busting out of a secret door, looking for nothing more then a reason to dismantle my head from the rest of my flailing body.
Moving with a swerve that only echoed the sentiment in my head, I directed my twisted inertia to the Journalism section...what the hell color room was I in? The signs and walls constantly changed...purple, rose, orange...good God! Make up your mind man! I was looking for a book, not questing for the holy fuckin grail. Yet I kept finding more sections, additional rooms where who knows what type of strange intellectual orgies of ideas were occurring. By the time I located the gonzo stylings I desired, I was out of breath, sweating profusely and in desperate need of a smoke. Something to keep my mind focused, something to get me out the door without causing the terror alert to go from amber to red. My attorney was not present, so I would have to deal with any pigs on my own.
I grabbed my prize, struggling to make my eyes focus long enough to comprehend that what I had grabbed was correct. Hell, just about anything at this moment was correct, at least as correct as the day and age my mindset resided in. Struggling to keep it together, I managed to take my plunder to the cashier...trembling while pulling out green and silver, not able to count let alone recognize the value, finally throwing what seemed like enough at the poor, pimpled face purveyor of books. I had my book...it was now time to leave and once again face the bats that waited for my departure.
So concluded my trip to Powells to pick up the biography for Hunter S Thompson.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (5)
Cool (3)
Awesome! A book-lover's dream come true. For the map-inclined, there is even a free guide of the store at the register you can pick up, and postcards so you can tell you friends all about it once you've been.
If I ever drive down to Portland again, I might just try to camp out here overnight..it is just possible I could barricade myself in with the entire collection on camping..I haven't seen that section (spent most of my time in sci-fi, fiction, and travel) but I'm sure it's big enough..
Also, they keep their used books right next to the new ones, so you have even more choice on pricing and variety.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
You like?
They got books!
They also buy used books! No crap, though!
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Best.
Bookstore.
EVAR.
(I even got a shirt from here. Yes, a shirt from and about a bookstore).
And as an elitist New Yorker, I can say that Powell's does it better than in New York City. Even The Strand.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
"Wassup With the Demographics of Book Lovers and Yelpers?"
It's interesting how I am #303 of the reviews for Powell's. What's up with Yelpers and Powell's? Does the anecdotal evidence suggest Yelpers have a higher than average literacy rate i.e. Powell's Books aficionados? Or is it that we drink a lot of beer and pinots because we're always in Portland attending one of the many festivals dedicated to those fine beverages?
Agreed that you had better pack snacks for a visit to Powell's because much like the web, you can easily find yourself diving into interesting text that you had no intention of reading when you had started. If you can't find it here, then forget looking for it on the web (a bit of hyperbole, but not too far off)
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (2)
Cool (5)
Ladies and gentlemen, kids of all ages...
Set aside, ooh-at least 3 hours, to start browsing through the THOUSANDS of volumes at this full city block- gigantic reading mecca of 4+ floors of books, new & used. You will get LOST in its lovely but endless shelves of books of all kinds, from biographies to crafts to rare to travel. Topics are categorized by color (Orange for crafts & sustainability, green for biographies & new books, etc.) For the bulk of my time, I happily became glazed in the Orange room.
For us out of towners, my niece and I loved this place so much, we went back...twice for a total of 3 hours of reading bliss.
Bibliophiles unite!
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (5)
Cool (4)
WARNING: Do not enter unless you have absolutely no obligations for at least 1/2 a day.
It all seemed so harmless. (Please notice bike racks, they're awesome.) When I first entered, it seemed like any other bookstore. New arrivals, sale books, staff recs. But, then I looked up and caused a hold up for those behind me. There is a room for every color of the rainbow! & I love colors.
Basically being a complete food nerd & knowing that I only had less than an hour before I had an important phone call, I went straight to the orange room. After navigating through the maze and trying to understand signs like "Far right door" when there was no right to be gone, I finally made it & boy was it worth it.
There were at least 3 aisles full of food related books. New ones, textbooks from culinary schools, ones that I couldn't believe there was a book about, and old ones that looked like they were passed down for generations. I felt like Belle when she walked into the castle library & Beast opens all the curtains & tells her to open her eyes (there are shelf ladders too!). The shelves were completely towering above me and I felt like a kid. Granted, I'm 5'1" so I'm not too far off.
This store alone makes me want to move to Portland, so I can live in the corner of one of the rooms...
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
I love the smell of books, new and old. I love the impossibly high shelves, the endless labyrinth of topics, forms, levels and sublevels. I only wish there were less people and more sofas in here, but considering I was here during Memorial Day weekend in the most easily accessible section for the bulk of my time at Powell's, I guess it's not so much a complaint about Powell's itself as it is a hankering to return in the future, furtively, alone, huddled in a quiet corner with thousands of books all around me.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
AMAZING.
i could literally spend a day in here.
It's like the bookstore equivalent of Amoeba records.
(ok, so the Strand in nyc is good too) but i'm currently stuck in the NW, so this is where it's at!
If i end up moving to portland, this place may become my second home which is potentially dangerous.
sounds good i need to probably not go there because i'll spend all my $$ on the incredible selection of books ... and sounds good it's worth it and i'll have an amazing collection of literature from art to culture in zanzibar.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
A must see - book worm or not.
Just what yelp needs, the 296th review of this bookstore. We came to Portland years ago and have been kicking ourselves ever since that we didn't go here. Whenever the subject of Portland came up, someone will say, "Ah, Portland. What did you think of Powell's? That place is HUGE, isn't it!"
Today we finally got a chance to visit. By now it had been blown up in my mind as something that must be nearly as large as Portland, the only building that can be seen by the naked eye from the space shuttle, so reality was a bit of a letdown. Seriously, as everyone knows, this is one large bookstore. More importantly, it has an impressively large selection of books. I know of nothing like it in the Bay Area (where I'm from).
The staff was friendly and helpful even though our questions usually turned out to be pretty stupid. We asked where a certain type of book might be in the store and the woman kindly walked over to where we were and pointed out the books about two feet from us.
Another time I asked where the restrooms were and was given detailed instructions. Only then did I notice that there are restroom signs about every 5 feet throughout the store. I may never go to Powell's again but I'll always remember that the restrooms are in the purple room. (By the way, it was nice and clean.)
I imagine the staff is taught to be kind to people who ask stupid questions. They are probably from California and are doing the best they can. All I can say is that I'm glad we don't live in Portland or we'd end up spending most of our money in this store.
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (6)
Cool (3)
Holy. Shit.
I discovered this place on a family road trip a few years back. We stayed in Portland for a few days and my dad's friend told us about Powells. I was literally lost in this place for hours. I didn't want to leave. Literally a city block with stories and stories of books. This place is extremely organized (different floors for different categories) and helpful and knowledgeable staff. I think I unfortunately bought some Chuck Palahniuk book (blah) but still, this place was heaven.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (3)
Cool (2)
Yep- you could spend a week in here. They give you a cool looking map to help you get around in a reasonable amount of time. New and used books, and all the geegaws you can wrap your newly opened mind around.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Authors take note, someone needs to write a guide on "How to pick up chicks at Powell's City of Books."
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (3)
Cool (2)
Can I please be the 300th person to review this one location Powell's?
Thank you!
Yes, if Powell's is a giant Tree, this feels like the acorn that started it.
Totally intimate, manageable and still big like an Irish wolfhound puppy, look at those feet!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
This place is a flarkin wonderland of books. The only problem I can find with this store is that it is WAY too overwhelming for my own good. The prices are great, tons of sale books, oodles of crazy niche categories, trinkets and nick-nacks. If I were to have sex with a bookstore it would be Powells'.
Giddyup.
People thought this was:
Funny (2)
Cool (1)
This place is something else. I would not consider myself an avid reader at all and yet somehow I never spend less than 2 hours here when I visit. The store smells like an old library but feels like indie heaven. I've been lost more than once in this building but it never seems to bother me one bit because I end up exploring sections and finding books I would never expect to read about. I'm glad I don't live in Portland because Powell's would kill my social life.
My only beef is that the coffee shop wasn't very cozy at all. Not to mention the place is packed even on weeknights. I'm known to enjoy my books with coffee and a fireplace, and Powell's doesn't quite offer that.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Powells is fantastic.
The only problem is that I got lost there and when I finally found my way out 3 days had passed.
I was in town for Hood to Coast and I missed the race.
OK, I made that up.
But Powells is amazing. The depth of material, the organization for the quantity of titles, the knowledge base of the staff, the entire organization, intent and being of Powells is amazing.
Yay for places like this that can thrive and bring such good stuff to the world.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Cool (3)
