A reorganization and renovations are underway at Powell's flagship location in Portland, Ore., Willamette Week reported.
The reorganization includes moving the science fiction, fantasy, and romance genres from the relatively small Gold Room on the store's first floor to the larger Purple Room on the second floor. Those genres are among Powell's biggest sellers, and the move will allow the bookstore to expand them.
At the same time, what was once Powell's Orange Room will be renamed the Home and Garden Room, and will include architecture and decor books as well as plants from local nurseries. Books related to film and TV, which previously resided in the Orange Room, will move to the Pearl Room.
The Powell's team is also taking the opportunity to freshen up some paint jobs, move displays, and do other renovation work. The goal, Powell's marketing director Jeremy Solly told Willamette Week, is to "have it be a place people feel relaxed and can come in and take the time." He noted too that it is the first remodel that Powell's has done in a "long, long time."
Work has been ongoing for about a month, and Powell's hopes to have it all complete by the end of November.