The famous Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon is a book lover’s dream and local institution. In the face of COVID-19, the store was forced to close its doors and lay off 300 employees, but now, thanks to a wave of online orders, they have hired back 100 staff members.
The rehiring process began to meet the demands of large numbers of online orders placed by customers seeking to support the bookstore which has been a key part of the Portland community since 1971. “Your kind words, messages of encouragement, ideas for perseverance and orders for books have taken our breath away,” said CEO Emily Powell.
According to Powell, all the rehired employees are working full time and receiving benefits. COVID-19 has hit most businesses hard, and bookstores, facing online competition, were already vulnerable even before the crisis. If you’re looking for some literature to keep yourself entertained while isolating, we encourage you to reach out to a local bookstore and use your dollars to support small sellers in need.
