Three of the Most Famous Bookstores in the World

Based in Beaverton, Oregon, William Rehm IV is a student at Portland Community College. In his free time, William Rehm IV enjoys many hobbies, including book collecting and reading. He has visited the famous Shakespeare and Company bookstore.

Readers who like to travel can find inspiration in books, and in bookstores! Here are some of the most famous bookstores around the world.

1. Shakespeare and Company. This Parisian bookstore is often described as the most famous bookstore in the world. The store has existed in three locations. The second location is best known as the birthplace of James Joyce’s Ulysses, and was a popular hangout for authors such as Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, and James Baldwin. The store now exists in a third location on the Rue de la Bûcherie.

2. The Strand. Located in New York City, The Strand was founded in 1927, and famously boasts 18 miles of books. Its employees claim that they have the best range of used books anywhere, including recently published titles. The store is found near Union Square in Lower Manhattan.

3. Powell’s. The largest independent bookstore in the world, Powell’s is located in Portland, Oregon, and stocks about a million books. The store was founded in 1970 by Walter Powell after he helped his son establish a bookstore in Chicago. The Portland store remains in the family, and is now run by Walter’s granddaughter, Emily.