The Best Little Bookstores in America!

Journey with me through the land of bookstores, in search of the BEST little bookstore in the country.  I am on a quest to find a place with a great selection, cozy atmosphere, wonderful staff, and an exciting calendar of events.  Please, help me if you know of one, too!  Shoot me a message, maybe include some pictures and a website and I'll be sure to share. 

The journey begins . . .

Portland, Oregon

Powell's Books

This bookstore was recommended to me by two people - with very good taste, I might add.  Now, I have never been to it, but I did some research to find out more and I cannot WAIT to visit these two ladies in order to take a trip to this store.

This particular store had very humble beginnings, but has grown to include seven locations in the Portland city area and is one of the world’s most successful online booksellers.

History

Michael Powell, the owner of this Portland franchise, is orginially from Chicago.  

In 1971 he opened a used bookstore there and experienced success. One summer, his father, Walter, from Oregon worked him and was so impressed with the experience that he decided to open one back home in Portland.  Walter originally focused just on used books and when his stock grew, he moved the location to a used car dealership for more room.  Michael joined with his father, Walter, in 1979 to create a unique bookstore, selling books used and new.

Check out the size of this place!

Old and new books are sold on the same shelves, both hardcover and paperback.  It is open 365 days a year and the staff is comprised of knowledgeable booklovers.  On July 1, 2005, the store launched PowellsBook.Blog.  In December of that same year, the website was named in the “Top 50 Retail Web Sites” by Internet Retailer magazine.  

powells.com/blog/

powells.com

Community

Now, how can we not like a place that gives back to the community?  Powell's Books is adamant about promoting literacy within the community.  They do this in a number of ways.  

1) Donations - For nine years they launched a campaign called It's for Kids and subsequently raised 40, 000 books to give to public school and libraries within the area.  In 2005, they created the School Book Challenge, which raised an astonishing 55, 000 books.

2) Events - Every day of the week, the stores host an event, pulling the community into their world of reading.  Some of these events include:  author readings/book signings, writing workshops, poetry/music performances, book clubs, etc.  The best part is that these activities are designed for kids and adults.  There is something for everyone.

powells.com/calendar/

In the following pictures, the stores promote the midnight launch of Suzanne Collins' third book in the Hunger Games series, Mockingjay.  The store designed a large cornucopia from the series and filled it with books.  The staff also dressed for the event.  This is truly a store for book enthusiasts!

Author Interviews

There is a link on the website that allows customers to read interviews with some very popular authors.  There are too many to list, but here are a few:

Eoin Colfer - Artemis Fowl series

Margaret Atwood - The Handmaid's Tale

Gil Adamson and David Wroblewski - The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

Jhumpa Lahiri - The Namesake

Jodi Picoult - House Rules

Sue Grafton - T is for Trespass

Khaled Hosseini - The Kite Runner

Awards

2011 Puddly Award Winners

Fiction:  The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Nonfiction:  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

If you are in the area, check it out.  If not, visit them online!

Ottumwa, Iowa

O'TOWN BOOKS

This bookstore is nestled in the old downtown district of a small town in Iowa.  The town itself seems a glimmer of a once thriving city; time has chipped away at it, as has the recession.  During my visit to see relatives this November, I found this store to be an oasis of sorts.  It had all of the qualities I look for in a comfortable bookstore.

First, the owners were helpful, interesting, and very sweet!  You have to love the Mid-West for this reason alone (of course, I am originally from Michigan, so have a bit of bias!).

Since I mentioned it was cozy, I had better offer proof. The store is in an old refurbished building with beautiful brick walls.  The owners added a fireplace, couches, and coffee table to offer booklovers a place to sit down and relax.  Another thing I found interesting was a video played on a nearby display, detailing the history and activities of Ottumwa.  These store owners are very proud of their community.

This store offers a selection of fiction, nonfiction, children's books and even has a designated Teacher's Corner.

And if this isn't enough of a reason to stop in and visit, they support local artists - particularly stained glass workers, Angela Nash and Nick Sawyer.  They sell their products within the store and online through the store's website:  www.otownbooksonline.com

Another necessary element of a truly great bookstore is the offer of workshops or other events to draw community members in.  O'Town Books offers art lessons to kids from painting to chalk pastels.  I know that I would have LOVED this as a kid and the only negative I can see is that I wish they'd offer it to adults, too. :)

The final aspect of the bookstore which adds to its charm is the fact that it is connected to a coffee shop with a huge array of drinks.  While I was there, I had a specialty drink called the Apple Pie with cinnamon and apple, espresso, and whipped cream.  Holy cow!  Delicious!  The Lucky Rooster Coffee House offers sandwiches, soups, and desserts as well.  Website:  www.theluckyrooster.com

Cheers to good times!

Soooooooo, if  you're ever in the area, this bookstore is a necessary stop!  Enjoy!