Best Bookstore in Portland · Portland, OR
Powell's City of Books is the largest independent new-and-used bookstore in the world, filling an entire downtown Portland block with more than a million volumes across nine color-coded rooms. Founded in 1971 by Walter Powell and grown by his son Michael, it shelves new and used books side by side — a browser's labyrinth.
A Portland icon and a required pilgrimage for book lovers, Powell's has become as much a symbol of the city as anything — proof that in the internet age a great physical bookstore can still be a destination.
Each Centurion Award is a dated record tied to one year’s evaluation — earned annually, never carried over. Open a year for the full citation and verification details.
Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
Visit Powell's City of Books
This page is the standing record for Powell's City of Books (2025). It was not bought, voted on, or sponsored — only winners are published, and an award that stops holding up is revoked, not quietly removed. For hours, bookings, and live reviews, go straight to the business itself.
If you’ve put in the years, you may already clear the bar. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.