My wife and I have often spoken about opening a book store. But we also like coffee shops, so we amend our play place to be a coffee shop and book store. But I also like deli sandwiches, so…
Yes, in my perfect world, I’d own a three-headed hydra shop selling books, coffee (with pastries), and sandwiches. We’d be playing the blues in there, because coffee shops and blues go together in my mind. Of course, I’ve owned a couple businesses and know, they are not easy work, so I ease away from pursuing the dream. Besides, as my wife likes to relate, someone who owns a book store shouldn’t love books, they should love selling books.
That takeway was from the owner of our favorite book store, Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon. And whenever we talk about opening a book store, we remind ourselves of what he said.
Michael Seidel, writer 
Agreed about favorites; Powell’s is good people. Back in PTA days, our funding had been cut, and it looked like we’d have to cut out the dictionaries we always gave to 5th graders moving on to middle school. Scholastic (I was also book fair chair) couldn’t help, so I decided to order from Powell’s, and would pay whatever went over budget. Well, Powell’s called me on the phone about my order, because of the number of books-and that they were dictionaries-I’d ordered. I told the person what had happened, and that we were determined to make sure those kids had dictionaries. Not only did we get those dictionaries a week before the promotion ceremony, but Powell’s chipped in shipping, and we were able to buy cookies and punch with the leftover money.
It’s been a while since I bought from them, but we always bought our banned books there, as well as some unique titles the kid wanted during his public school days. They always had everything there, and I always thought we’d move in there when we retired!
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