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Powell's: The Big Get Bigger
Barbara R ther -- 2/7/00
The completion of a major expansion and remodeling at Powell's City of Books in Portland, Ore., has made the country's largest independent bookstore even larger. Growing from the city block on Burnside Avenue that the store already occupies, the new three-floor tower doubles the retail space to 68,000 square feet. Built at a cost of $3.5 million, the tower makes Powell's printed maps of store sections even more necessary.
The store expanded sections for fine art, photography and foreign language titles as well as an area designed for author appearances and art showings that can seat 250 people. The children's section also doubled in size, and chairs and benches were added throughout the store. According to general manager Miriam Sontz, "We tried to listen to our customers, and these changes reflect the changing interests of our readers."
The reconfiguration includes a dramatic new entryway at NW 11th and Couch Streets. One side is supported by a sandstone column that is carved with eight books reflecting the wealth and breadth of world literature: Shakespeare's Hamlet, the Hindu Mahabarata, the Hebrew Psalms, The 1001 Arabian Nights, Melville's Moby-Dick, the Chinese Tao De Ching and Tolstoy's War and Peace. Each title is carved in its original language. The square base for the pillar is inscribed with a Northwest variation on Latin idiom that reads Carpe Librum, C me Librum, Lege Librum, Vende Librum, or "Seize the Book, Buy the Book, Read the Book, Sell the Book."
Union Blues
Since April 1999, nonmanagement workers at Powell's have been involved in unionizing as ILU Local 5. Contract negotiations between the ILU (International Longshore and Warehouse Union) began last September 14 and are continuing.
According to ILU spokesperson Marcy Rein, the expansion could have a serious impact on the unionizing process. Some pro-union workers have complained that Powell's management is discouraging newly hired employees from joining their co-workers in union efforts. However, according to Mary Winzig, a pro-union employee at Powell's who has heard of the "new employee lunches," many of the new workers are supportive of the union and are bringing new enthusiasm to the process. Some workers who originally voted against the union have now become part of the negotiating team.
"There is a sense that something bigger than any one of us is at stake," Winzig told PW. "When the tower was completed and when we were able to see financial statements, something clicked with many employees. This business is thriving. I have worked here for five years -- I am a purchaser with responsibility for thousands of budget dollars -- and I get paid $8.75 per hour."
For her part, Sontz stated that Powell's is very interested in completing a fair contract agreement with the union and is satisfied with the progress of the negotiations.
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