Powell's Books is a chain of bookstores in Portland, Oregon, and its surrounding metropolitan area. Powell's headquarters, dubbed Powell's City of Books, claims to be the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world. Powell's City of Books is located in the Pearl District on the edge of downtown and occupies a full city block between NW 10th and 11th Avenues and between W. Burnside and NW Couch Streets. It contains over 68,000 square feet, about 1.6 acres of retail floor space.
Powell's City of Books in 2008, viewed from the corner of NW 10th & Burnside Street
The City of Book's NW 11th & Couch entrance, featuring the "Pillar of Books"
The City of Book's Coffee Room
Powell's Books in Condon, Oregon
Pearl District, Portland, Oregon
The Pearl District is an area of Portland, Oregon, formerly occupied by warehouses, light industry and railroad classification yards and now noted for its art galleries, upscale businesses and residences. The area has been undergoing significant urban renewal since the mid-1980s when it was reclassified as mixed use from industrial, including the arrival of artists, the removal of a viaduct and construction of the Portland Streetcar. It now consists of industrial building conversion to offices, high-rise condominiums and warehouse-to-loft conversions.
Aerial view from 1988, prior to redevelopment; the Pearl District lies in the center of the image.
The Pearl District and surrounding area, as seen from the US Bancorp Tower
Pearl District street sign topper