Beloved independent bookstore Powell's Books is charting a comeback to the Portland International Airport (PDX) slated for early 2026. Shut down since the pandemic's financial upheavals in 2020, the iconic Portland retailer's return to PDX has been disclosed in a Port of Portland commission meeting agenda, initially identified by civic affairs observer Iain MacKenzie. According to Oregon Live, if approved, Powell's would nestle into a 1,940 square-foot space located in the airport's South Hall, straddled between B and C gates.

While PDX continues to rapidly renovate its main terminal—a $2 billion project due for completion this August—the anticipated reopening will feature 21 new concessions, amidst which Powell’s Books is expected to make a reinvigorated presence. Deliberations for this storied return were ongoing since last April, with Powell’s needing to more time to finalize its decision and commitment. "Bookstores repeatedly top the list of in-demand retail concepts in passenger surveys, and Powell’s is universally synonymous with Portland," noted the commission's agenda, as reported by KOIN. The shop is planned to open adjacent to the airport's Columbia sportswear store and across from Stumptown Coffee Roasters.

Currently, Powell's boasts three stores, with its flagship City of Books holding its ground downtown as a major tourist draw. Both the bookstore and PDX felt the sting of the pandemic with a significant drop in travel volumes, which have still not bounced back fully; this April, PDX recorded passenger numbers trailing 16% behind those in April 2019. Powell's appeared to be gearing up for a resurgence, as per Oregon Live, revealing that the Powell Family Real Estate Co. LLC borrowed $4.5 million, using the bookstore's warehouse as collateral, purportedly to improve its stores.