A sense of unease swept through Powell’s City of Books on Tuesday when a man described as having no visible tattoos, piercings, or bumper stickers entered the store without displaying any obvious signs of subcultural affiliation.
According to staff and patrons, the man—estimated to be in his early 30s—wore unadorned jeans and a plain sweatshirt, devoid of any references to bands, podcasts, or critiques of capitalism. One Powell’s employee described his appearance as having “the unsettling neutrality of an Apple Store mannequin.”
“He just walked in—like the rest of us, like he had a right to be here,” said Cedar Loam, a veteran barista at the store. Loam said she made brief eye contact with the man before retreating to the Rare Books Room. “No tattoos. No piercings. Not even a sticker on his water bottle. And then we saw the car. It was completely bare—not a single bumper sticker. Not even a faded ‘Feel the Bern.’ It was chilling.”
Witnesses say the man wandered the aisles in silence, browsing books without photographing them or offering unsolicited reviews. He reportedly picked up The Body Keeps the Score without commenting on how it had changed his life.
“He didn’t recommend Braiding Sweetgrass to anyone. He didn’t ask for the gender-neutral bathroom key. I didn’t even hear him sigh,” said one visibly shaken customer.
Security footage confirms the man left the store after 43 minutes, having purchased a single book. A bystander who held the door open for him reported that he said only “thanks,” without mentioning astrology, a personal zine, or his therapist.
In response, Powell’s issued a statement assuring the public that the bookstore remains “a safe space for self-expression, self-diagnosis, and self-publishing.” The store also confirmed that tattooed staff will receive additional training on how to de-escalate encounters with “visibly unmarked individuals.”
As of press time, the individual has not been seen again. However, several regulars have reported a “lingering beige energy” near the self-help section.
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