"Against all odds," Condon, Ore.--population 760--is home to a little-known outpost of Powell's Books, the Oregonian noted in its profile of Powell's Books at Condon Local, a retail store that features a coffee shop, soda fountain and, in the back, a small bookshop.
Michael Powell, founder of the Portland bookstore, launched the Condon outlet in 1993. "People do a double take, and then they come back and say, 'Is it true? Is it real?' " he said. "Yep. That's us."
For 34 years, the business, owned by Darla Seale, was known as Country Flowers. "The idea of being in Condon appealed to me," Powell added, "but mainly it was Darla's personality that made it happen."
Her floral business gradually expanded to "sell an assortment of knickknacks, kitchenware, clothing and greeting cards. Seale also added a soda fountain and deli counter. Hers was the first cafe in the county to get an espresso machine," the Oregonian noted.
Powell discovered the store around that time after purchasing vacation property in the neighboring community of Spray and becoming one of Seale's regular customers. Then the idea of a Powell's Books outlet came up.
"It just seemed like a good idea at the time," Powell recalled. "I got to know Darla. It didn't take her very long to say, 'How would you feel about putting some kind of a book presence here?' " In the early years, Powell's sent someone to restock the books. Later, Seale would bring a vanload back herself when she visited Portland.
Both businesses have changed. Powell retired and his daughter, Emily Powell, is now owner and president of the company. Earlier this year, Seale sold Country Flowers to Jeremy Kirby, who had managed the business for more than two years before purchasing it in April and renaming it the Condon Local. The Powell's Books outlet remains a big draw, and he plans to move the books to a more prominent location at the front of the store.
"When people find it, they're usually pleasantly surprised," Kirby said. "They spend a bunch of time going through books. They get coffee and food and make a day out of it. And usually, they fall in love with Condon."