"To a certain kind of rabid reader, Powell's is an almost perfect blend of the massive scale of a chain bookstore and the bohemian vibe of a neighborhood independent.
"The mystery section includes popular fare and rare early editions, and is stocked by someone well-versed enough to recognize that William Irish was one of noir author Cornell Woolrich's pen names. The staff is known for its bibliophilism: Jon Guetschow, 36, the store's head buyer and a comics fanatic, says that he can't afford to leave Powell's because the loss of the employee discount would ruin him.
"Between staff, stock and its online muscle, Powell's looms over other beloved independent stores such as Denver's Tattered Cover and New York City's Strand."
Scott Timberg in the Los Angeles Times checks in with the owners of Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon, to see how "the nation's preeminent independent bookstore" will face an uncertain future.
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