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Can Portland Stalwart Powell's Books Survive?

Portland’s Powell’s Books, a mecca for book lovers, has survived an endless list of threats during its 50 years, including the rise of Amazon. None have been like the tumult of recent years, which included the pandemic shutdowns, downtown protests which led to boarded-up storefronts, and forest fires that compromised Portland's air quality. “But the latest plot twist has foreshadowed a potentially unhappy ending,” per The New York Times. “Like the rest of Portland’s urban core — and like downtowns across the United States —Powell’s is contending with staggering uncertainty. How will brick-and-mortar stores fare in a time of continued fear over a deadly, airborne plague? What happens to city life when sidewalks are strewn with the rain-soaked belongings of people who can no longer afford rent?”

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