But the shop closed in July 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. And in a tweet announcing its departure, Powell’s said, “We hope to return one day.”
We’re happy to say that’s going to happen.
As part of the expansion and makeover of the main terminal at PDX, Powell’s Book is returning to the airport.
And they’ve got a seven-year lease.
“Since the day we closed our airport store almost four years ago, the most common question from shoppers has been ‘Will Powell’s be returning to PDX?’ Now with the main terminal expansion, we are thrilled to serve travelers through our world-renowned airport,” said Powell’s Books CEO Patrick Bassett.
Powell’s Books will open a temporary kiosk shop when the new main terminal opens at PDX this summer. The bookstore will open a larger, 1,940-square-foot retail space in Phase 2 of the main terminal construction.
The new store – Powell’s fourth Portland retail location – will be in the South Hall of the airport, immediately after the Concourse B/C security checkpoint. The temporary kiosk will be directly in front of where the permanent retail shop will eventually open.
Stay safe, stay sane, and pay attention to the gifts you put in your carry-on bags.
TSA officers may ask you to unwrap a package if they need to get a look at what’s inside. That can be slow you down, of course, but it could also spoil a holiday surprise if the gift you’ve carefully wrapped is for one of your traveling companions.
One suggestion – offered in the TSA Travel Talk below – is to pack presents in gift bags so that checkpoint staff can look at the contents without ruining a great wrapping job.
But Alton DuLaney, who happens to be both a world-famous gift wrap artist andHouston Airports’ public art curator, isn’t a fan of gift bags.
“I feel like gift bags are a little lazy when you’ve gone to all the trouble to find the perfect gift for someone,” he told us in a pre-holiday interview. He offered a few more creative, TSA-friendly, wrapping alternatives.
One idea is to use a box with a lid and wrap the bottom of the box and the lid of the box separately.
“That way you can open the box to show TSA what’s inside. And when you get to where you going just tie on a ribbon and you’re ready to give the gift,” said DuLaney.
Another option is to put gifts in decorated tins or containers that can be easily opened and reclosed at the security checkpoint.
“You can also wrap gifts in clear colored or printed cellophane. And that way TSA can still see what’s inside as well.”
On Monday, December 20 from 9 am to 3 pm, both Hobby Airport (HOU) and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston will be hosting free gift-wrapping stations. DuLaney will be at Hobby Airport but says he’s carefully trained the teams that will be staffing the tables at both airports.
Many other airports around the country will be offering free gift wrap stations during this busy travel week as well. Some will be collecting donations for local charities, so tip generously and take the opportunity to do some last-minute shopping at your airport. Those stores could really use your business this year.
MSP sits on land that, back in 1914, was home to Snelling Speedway.
Auto racing gave way to airmail service and Speedway Field. In 1923 the airport was renamed Wold-Chamberlain Field in honor of two local pilots who lost their lives in combat during World War 1.
The airport’s first passenger service was in 1929 and in 1948 the MSP acquired its current name: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Please keep in mind that some of the amenities we feature here may be currently unavailable due to health concerns. We’re confident they’ll be back.
5 Things We Love About Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
1. Award-winning restrooms at MSP
Clean bathrooms are an important airport amenity. Add art and an airport’s bathrooms can become something people talk about and give awards to.
That’s what happened when several sets of MSP restrooms were remodeled to feature stunning artist-made mosaics and the latest in cleaning technology.
In 2016, MSP Airport won first place in an annual contest that crowns America’s best public restroom. That was the first time an airport loo won the award.
2. The arts program at MSP
In 2019, MSP airport presented more than 900 live music and dance performances.
This summer, local authors began online readings from their books and Once the pandemic is over, the plan is to have monthly readings in the art gallery in the Airport Mall in Terminal 1.
3. The Prince store at MSP
The late musician Prince is a beloved Minnesota-born icon.
In addition to a giant 16-foot-by 24-foot mural of Prince by artist Rock Martinez, MSP airport also has a Prince store in Terminal 1 where fans can buy all sorts of Prince-branded merchandise.
The escalator is 55 feet tall, travels about 100 feet per minute and is capable of transporting 9,000 people per hour.
The ride – up or down – takes 1 minute and 15 seconds.
All rental car services, off-airport parking shuttles and all bus services are in the new Silver Ramp.
5. Animal ambassadors at MSP
98 therapy dogs – and a therapy cat named Stitches – serve as animal ambassadors at MSP airport, helping reduce travelers’ stress.
Bonus: The hotel at MSP Airport
MSP Airport has a hotel located between the inbound and outbound roadways at Terminal 1 with direct access to Concourse C via a skyway.
The 291-room, 12-story Intercontinental MSP Airport has two restaurants, a cocktail bar, a TSA checkpoint (currently closed due to COVID), a fitness center, a thermal pool, and a collection of work by local artists.
One thing MSP Airport does not have is an aircraft viewing area with an outdoor pool.
That was a great April Fools Day joke from 2018 that we’re still wishing might come true.
Did we miss one of the amenities you love at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)?
If so, please leave a note in the comments section below.
I’ve been in Singapore this week checking out – and experiencing – the new pre-security attraction at Changi Airport called ‘Jewel‘.
Housed inside a toroidal (doughnut-shaped) glass and steel structure designed by noted architect Moshe Safdie, the Jewel attraction sits next to Terminal 1 on a piece of land that once housed a parking lot.
Inside there’s a lush four-story tiered garden, more than 280 retail and dining outlets, a Yotel short-stay hotel, and a multi-screen IMAX theater. But the attraction’s centerpiece is without a doubt the 140-foot-tall Rain Vortex that is now the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.
A few ticketed activities in Jewel’s ‘Forest Canopy’ will open in June, including a 164-foot-long glass-bottomed bridge, nets for bouncing and walking above the forest, mazes, topiary sculptures and more.
Shopping
galore
In addition to global brands such as Adidas, Coach and Levi’s, Jewel’s many shopping venues include a good number of new-to-market shops.
There’s the first Pokémon Center outside of Japan, shops selling gift foods and plenty of Singapore brands, such as In Good Company (clothing) and Supermama (design and crafts items).
Gift by Changi Airport carries many specially-made Changi Airport-themed items, including the airport’s signature orchid, spice and plant-sourced scent and work by sought-out local artists.
From Shake Shack to fine dining
Dining options in Jewel Changi Airport range from fast-food to fine dining and include cuisines from Asian to Western. Singapore’s first Shake Shack (with unique to Singapore menu items) is here as are numerous cafes that offer ‘outdoor’ dining with a view of Jewel’s forest and waterfall.
Bonus
amenities for travelers
Many passengers have long layovers at Changi Airport or have many hours to wait between hotel check-out time and late-night flights.
For those passengers Jewel has early check-in counters, bag storage facilities and a pay-per-use lounge.
The newest in the Yotel chain of “cozy” in-city and airport hotels, the YOTELAIR in the Jewel Changi Airport has 130 cabin-sized short-stay rooms.
Each room has its own shower and toilet, TV, WiFi and a space-saving ‘Smartbed’ that can change positions at the push of a button.
There’s a gym for guests, but during my four-hour stay I discovered that the best part of this YOTELAir is the patio that sits out front. It was a perfect, private spot to have a coffee, gather my thoughts, view the waterfall, the forest and all the shoppers going by.
Opening rates at the YOTELAIR are S$140 (about $103 US) for overnight stays in a Premium Queen Cabin and S$80 (about $59 US) for day stays of four hours. (Shower-only packages will be S$20 – about $15 US).
The newly named John S. McCain III Terminal 3 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) now has a new South Concourse and post-security lobby area with 15 gates and all new shops, restaurants and amenities.
The area offers passengers lots of light and great view of Phoenix’s desert landscape as well as power at most every seat, a new state-of-the-art Delta Sky Club, a children’s play area (the PHX Play-Viation Park), a nursing room and an animal relief area.
Public art installations feature a
colorful terrazzo floor by Arizona artist Teresa Villegas as well as Donald
Lipski’s “Aviators” which are giant sunglasses on the wall of the arrivals
atrium.
Retail includes national brands, such as
Johnston & Murphy and Sugarfina, as well as locally-linked venues such as Best
of the Valley and Travel Outfitters. Mosaic includes artwork by Phoenix and
Arizona-based artists, and Indigenous pays tribute to Southwest Native American
tribes and offers jewelry and crafts.
Dining options include Shake Shack and Panera
Bread as well as chef Mark Tarbell’s Tavern, James Beard award winner
Christopher Gross’ Christopher’s and other local favorites that include The
Parlor (pizza and pasta), SanTan Brewing Company and Mustache Pretzels, which
serves mustache-shaped pretzels (and dips), including the Nutstache, with
salted caramel and topped with crushed peanuts, walnuts, almonds and filberts.
Terminal 3 serves Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, and Sun Country and is being updated in phases.
There’s one more phase to completed: the renovation of the North Concourse, which will add all new shops, restaurants and customer amenities. That phase is slated to be completed in 2020.