PORTLAND, Ore. — Over the last four decades, Powell’s Books has swelled into the largest bookstore in North America — a capacious monument to reading that occupies a full square block of this often-drizzly city. But this year, growth has given way to anxiety.
Having spent the last five years in Portland this story caught my attention. I got through college by selling my used books to Powell’s- they always paid pretty well.
It’s difficult to believe the store that already spans a full city block downtown and has an additional store on Hawthorne could possibly expand any further.
But now, Mr. Powell himself has announced they will not be going forward with an originally planned $5 million expansion.
That’s really too bad. I loved Powell’s when I lived in Portland and obviously I am in support of book stores expanding rather than shrinking. However I agree with the choice not to expand. It’s probably the worst time in the history of books to be trying to grow. We have the Kindle, the Nook, now the I-Pad. E-books are growing and hard copies may be shrinking away into the past.
So good on you, Mr. Powell, for not making what would most likely be a $5 million mistake. Maybe once this e-book thing fizzles out (please, please let it just be a fad!) you can go back to that expansion you were planning.
Bent Shelf Book Reviews 