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Powell's City of Books

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1005 W Burnside St
Portland, OR 97209

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(503) 228-4651
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Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books - Portland, OR
Reviews
( 45 )
( 21 )
( 5 )
( 4 )
( 6 )

Best

Still hanging on to this uncomfortable encounter years later? Must have been a bad day for both of you. I have had so many wonderful experiences at Powells City of Books that I ...

Worst

You can't trust Powell's online orders! If you are a student, or ordering a book for a present, don't use Powell's online. Even if they confirm your order, if the book runner dis...

Best book store in Portland 9/12/2005

Powell's City of Books. It is a city of books and it does come with a map. You have to have one to find your way around in this place it is so huge. there are different rooms with different classifications of books and they are all a different color so its easy to find the room you are looking for. Powell's has every book you can think of. If you live in Portland there is no reason to go any where else to look for a book. Powell's will have it. They also buy and sell used books as well. more
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All the books you're looking for! 9/12/2005

I love to read, but I've always been wary of "used" bookstores in the past because my experience has been that the books are in really bad shape or that the prices aren't that great. This is not the case at Powell's. They have EVERYTHING you're looking for, the books are in great shape, and the prices are also great. I'm a history buff and have found several hard-to-find historical books here. Where other used bookstores sometimes focus on one area (for example, romance/fiction), they have pretty much every kind of book you could imagine here. more
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Bibliophile's Best Dream! 9/9/2005

Oh my goodness! THey say that you must spend a week in each of the museums associated with the Smithsonian Institute to get the 'full effect' of the Smithsonian Experience. The same must be said for Powell's Books. It has to be the LARGEST bookstore in the world--at least the biggest one I've ever been to. So many books that the store takes up an entire city block. Over 1 Million tomes are within reach of your sticky little fingers. Grab a mocha, get some reads, sit down and have at it. Oh yeah, buy some books too...don't just schlep around and read the books for free.....come on...they have to pay the bills too, right? Oh...panhandlers sometimes abound outside. Just step past, toss some change and go inside. Generally they (the panhandlers) won't hurt you, they're just looking to pay the bills too. more
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huge selection 8/31/2005

WOW! If you are visiting Portland you have to stop by powells and check it out. It really is one of the best things in Portland. When ever my Brother and his wife are up from California, they always have to hit powells a few times each trip. They have a great selection of used and new books. They also have a coffee shop located inside, where you can bring your books or your laptop and use the FREE WIFI! more
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Most gigantic bookstore I've ever seen 8/23/2005

Powell's is the four-hundred-pound gorilla of bookstores. If it were an apartment building, hundreds of people could live in the space comfortably. It's got three-plus floors of books on assorted topics and takes up an entire city block. Pretty darn huge. As for selection, I've found Powells good for acquiring obscurities as well as highly popular texts. It's not very good for general browsing; pick a section and stick to it. Used-book prices are also a bit high, and make sure you pick up a map at one of the info desks; I can imagine someone getting lost in there for weeks, surviving off the remains of people's coffee cups! more
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Certainly a wonder of the retail world 8/21/2005

The world’s largest bookstore seems like a bold claim until you get lost in Powell’s flagship store in Portland. During the winter, it’s a place to escape the grey, wander the isles and wonder at the breadth and depth of the non-fiction titles. Or hole up in the café with a new paperback. Whatever the circumstance, you’re unlikely to leave empty handed. more
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Spend a few hours getting lost in the city of books 8/20/2005

What can you say about a place like Powell's City of Books? Its sheer size is impressive...and a little intimidating. Fortunately you can pick up a map at then entrance, and the store is color coded so you can find your way around quite easily. I really like that they shelve used books alongside new titles, so you are offered a real choice. This is a great place to spend a few hours browsing. more
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Largest bookstore on the continent 8/19/2005

I have been known to make the drive from Seattle to Portland just to go to Powell's. Sure, you can order from the website but for pure browsing enjoyment nothing beats the real thing. Powell's is such a huge entity that you need a map just to maneuver your way through its various color coded sections. Besides books,Powell's also sells book reading accessories, cards, and the occasional left wing map. Powell's has other satellite locations scattered throughout the Portland area for those with specialized interests in tech or travel. There is also a café on site at the main Powell's to rest your feet after you spend hours rambling from section to section. The one problem with Powell's is that the selection sometimes carries a paucity of academic books. This is especially a problem in the political science section. Overall, this is a great bookstore for used and new books for every subject. more
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Powell's Books 8/19/2005

A local landmark, don't judge a book by its cover: the main entrance to this block-sized store makes it look like a second-rate dump. Once inside, however, you could get lost for days, almost literally, since the place is a maze of new and used books that scatters in all directions. While it's easier to sit at home and "browse" through Amazon.com, there's still something to be said for the hands-on approach. more
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In the beginning there were books, thus Powell's was created 8/18/2005

Powell’s Books is basically a religious experience waiting to happen – housed in a former car dealership. This is one of the corollary reasons I had for moving to Portland from Chicago. It’s that good. So many titles, well educated staff, quiet hide outs, multiple floors, great prices, busy reading and event schedule…the list goes on and on. If you like books and haven’t been here, plan to go tonight – they’re open until 11:00pm. www.powells.com more
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An apropos name 8/17/2005

Powell's City of Books is one of the largest bookstores in the world. Three stories tall, this store contains everything from the latest new releases, to rare used books. It's so large, they even have their own maps they hand out for the uninitiated. This is a great place to pick up used copies of some of last year's bestsellers at a reduced price. A less corporate atmosphere than the Barnes and Noble's and Borders of the world, Powell's is the kind of place where even non-bibliophiles can get immersed in the world of books. more
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The best bookstore ever 8/17/2005

Now, there probably is bigger bookstore's out there, but I have yet to find one. They have a gigantic selection of books, new and used, some that are harder to find now. I found books I thought I'd never be able to find, but they had them, and they were cheap. A lot of books I buy are as low as a dollar, in fact the most I've ever paid for a book here was eight dollars. If you like to read, or are trying to find a rare book, get down to Powell's, they'll have it. more
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Tons of Books 8/15/2005

You will not go home empty handed...unless you try hard. This books store has something for everyone. This being Portland, they have every kind of genre imaginable and an endless selection in each. Covering three floors, maps are required to make your way around the shelves. Some of the employees can look intimidating or unfriendly, but have no fear they're quite helpful. more
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The best thing in town for avid readers!!!! 8/13/2005

This book store is located in the fancy Pearl district. Many titles are used and can be bought at great prices. There are several locations thru out the city. Their web site has a news letter that is updated often. I enjoy looking at the discount book section near the back registers. Did I say they buy books from the general public and you can bring them in at most any time. The employees are knowledgable and friendly,mature people. I love this store! Its open early and late most days. more
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Great books 8/11/2005

I love powells books. I have been going here for as many years as I can remember. I even remember my mom going here when I was little. They have a great selection and a really cool laid back portland type of atmosphere. They have those hard to find books as well more
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This bookstore speaks for itself 8/10/2005

WOW! Powell's is the largest bookstore in the world (so they say), and I believe it! It's 4 stories tall and easily the size of a costco building! They have a great coffee shop with wi-fi, and they let you bring books from the store to the coffee shop to sit and read. I have spent many an afternoon reading the day away. It is a great atmosphere and the epitomy of Portland life. They sell used and new books, and everyone who works there is friendly and is a book lover. It's right in the heart of downtown portland, parking is relativly easy, (though expect to have a hard time parking in the garage unless you have a tiny car). Please check these guys out, it's worth the extra drive to get there! more
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Best selection of books anywhere 7/26/2005

When I first went into Powell's, I was blown away. A friend suggested we split up and meet back in a couple of hours....which was not nearly long enough! I've never seen so many categories of books and such a large selection with each. Powell's carries new and used books inall sorts of categories, and you can also find many out of print, signed, and first/early editions of books. Their branch at the Portland airport, while small, is also great! more
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City of Books 7/17/2005

Not only does Powells have a great selection of books, they are cheap. A "used" book cost about $3. This book is in mint condition. Maybe a page is doggy-eared so therefore it's used. No this can be a pro or con. Pro for the buyer con for the seller. I sold some books there and only recieved $7 for about 10 books. They were in good condition but Powells standards are higher. I highlighted about 2 sentences in one book and they would not accept it. But when I buy a book this is what I love about it, the books look new. more
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Heaven on earth for us bibliophiles! 6/30/2005

This world-famous bookstore really is the size of an entire city block. It's amazing. I love it here; I often spend my Saturday just hanging out. They have every book you could imagine, including a room of rare and first editions. You can sell back old books (not at a very good rate, however: 25% of what they intend to sell it for). The staff is fantastic; so knowledgeable and helfpul. The store is divided into color-coded rooms (blue room = mystery, orange = biography, for example), but grab a map and be prepared to get lost at least once, anyway. Spend an afternoon hanging out here, you'll be glad you did! more
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Editorial

  • In Short
    Billed as the nation's largest independent bookstore, Powell's occupies an entire city block and requires a map to navigate. Though Powell's size and reputation draws tourists by...

  • 6/12/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Monday To Sunday From 09:00 AM To 08:30 PM
  • Payments: Master Card, Visa, American Express, Discover
  • Neighborhoods: Neighbors West - Northwest, Pearl
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