From the cozy corners of our own four walls, books take us to distant worlds for a much-needed escape. A book town like Portland, however, lures bibliophiles to explore the city’s literary treasures beyond words on dedicated pages.
Portland’s independent bookstores are enduring emblems of resilience finding ways to get creative and survive despite the obstacles posed by online giants like Amazon and a global pandemic keeping people from reading the stacks. Fortunately, readers of all kinds have heard calls for support from Portland’s independent booksellers.
World class bookstores
2021 markPowell’s Books’50th anniversary, the largest independent bookstore in the world. Its flagship store in Portland’s Pearl District occupies an entire block of town and offers 68,000 square feet of used, new, rare, and out of print books. Powells.com offers the combined inventory of its three retail locations and five warehouses totaling approximately three million books. To celebrate this milestone, Powell’s Books published his50 books for 50 years. The collection is a self-reflective curation that reminds everyone to “act as a mirror and a beacon”. However, the never-ending book recommendations at Powell’s Books come from the popular “Staff Picks” cards that can be seen in the aisles – each card is like a personal note from a Portlander. Welcome to our city and the books we read here.
Third Eye Booksis a black-owned bookstore that opened its new stationary location in June 2021. Owners Michelle Lewis and Charles Hannah aim to be a source for African-themed books and anti-racist literature. They did some exciting book signing this summer – like starring David Walker from The Black Panther Party graphic novel – as well as an Amplifying #Blackvoices Summer 2021 campaign.
Vivienne Kitchen & Pantryis a Hollywood neighborhood darling, currently transforming its dining room into a culinary bookstore suitable for cookbook autograph sessions, cookery demonstrations, and cookbook-inspired classes. Their delicious treats are not going anywhere either. This perfect mix of Portland food and book culture is slated to hit the market in early November.
Other noteworthy bookstores:
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Green bean books, also located on hip Alberta Street, has staff ready to offer the perfect book recommendation for a child’s current obsessions.
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Wallace booksIt feels like stepping into your mad professor’s house as towers of jiggling books fill the charming yellow house with blue moldings.
Literary activities
Every November, the South Park Blocks – including the Portland Art Museum and Portland 5 performance venues – become part of the immersive literary experience of thePortland Book Festival. Author lectures, book signing sessions, an indie book fair, writing workshops and pop-up readings across the city provide a welcome sense of community and creativity for bookworms and creatives of all kinds. For 2021, the Portland Book Festival will host virtual programs and Have a day of personal events on November 13th.
Offers book printing, bookbinding, screen printing and graphic design courses thatIndependent Publications Resource Center(IPRC) is aimed at lovers of books and creative forms of expression. A mix of workshops, children’s classes, and free events like the Open Collage Night make this Southeast Division resource center a progressive place for literary artisans of all stripes.
Literary water holes
Rose City Book Pubbrings together two of Portland’s signature passions: beer and books. The owner Elise Schumock kept the layout of the previous tenant – a cozy Irish pub – and simply added her own bookish appeal to the room. The 18 taps of local beers are surrounded by bookshelves. Since Schumock’s father used to interview authors on the local radio station KBOO, there are many hand-signed copies between the piles and the book counter carries on his literary legacy.
The love of books, coffee and Portland’s Overlook district inspired owners Nathan and Mary to open itThe Stack Cafe. As a coffee shop and self-proclaimed community library, grab a book off the shelf to read while you sip brew from a local roaster. Anyone can sign up for a library card from the magazines, which is based on the honor system of users who return borrowed books. The name Stacks comes from Mary’s childhood walking through the library stacks of her mother’s workplace in the University of Texas library.
Literary accommodations
The cityHeathman Hotelhas long been hailed as a literary center. The library is on two floors with a royal bookcase that spans the full height of the room. The 2,700 volumes contain signed editions by Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, US poet laureates and politicians. From sophisticated to slightly dirtier, The Heathman is also known for being a well-known location in the 50 Shades of Gray series.
Only a few steps away from the pioneer site,The nineThe hotel has a cozy library lounge with colorfully bound books and brown Chesterfield leather sofas for reading.
The Duniwayis named after Oregon writer, suffragette, and pioneer Abigail Scott. Every meeting room in the hotel is named after one of her books. The feminist celebration continues with female-authored books throughout the hotel curated by the Powell’s Books team.
