Powell’s Books in Portland, Ore., laid off more than a dozen people across the company this week. The bookstore has laid off more than 30 employees since July.
A Powell’s spokesperson confirmed that the October layoffs encompassed “a total of 13 roles across the organization. These changes were not limited to our stores; the majority affected management and business services positions across departments.” The bookstore did not specify which departments were downsized.
Like bookstores nationwide, Powell’s faces increased operating expenses and tight margins. “As with many businesses right now, we’re seeing expenses rise faster than sales,” Powell’s shared in an October 29 statement. “This has been an ongoing challenge since the pandemic, and while we’ve taken many steps to grow revenue and control costs, this most recent action was an unfortunate but necessary step to help ensure the long-term stability of Powell’s Books.”
The company also noted, “We don’t have any further staffing changes to share at this time.”
Powell’s, which opened in 1971, is the world’s largest independent bookstore, with three bricks-and-mortar locations across the metro area and a Portland International Airport location. Owner Emily Powell, granddaughter of founder Walter Powell and daughter of longtime owner Michael Powell, has kept the bookstore in the family. Powell’s also operates a warehouse in the city’s Northern Industrial District, and its 2024 and 2025 warehouse sales of discounted inventory were so popular that bargain-hunters were required to sign up for timed-entry passes.
While known for its hometown popularity and tourist-attraction status, the store has contended with union disputes in recent years. In June 2024, Portland Business Journal reported that Powell Family Real Estate Co. LLC had borrowed $4.5 million for store improvements, using its warehouse as collateral. In fall 2024, staffers at the flagship downtown Powell’s City of Books reshelved 100,000 books during a redesign of the interior space that created wider, brighter passageways in time for the holiday season.
