Yu & Me Books, Asian American-owned bookstore in NYC’s Chinatown, reopens after fire
Yu & Me Books, an Asian American-owned bookstore in Manhattan’s Chinatown, has reopened months after a fire gutted the small independent shop.
A beloved Asian American-owned bookstore in Manhattan’s Chinatown has reopened months after a fire gutted the small independent shop last summer.
On July 4, a residential unit above the bookshop caught fire, killing one of the building’s residents. The resulting smoke and water damage also devastated Yu & Me Books, destroying almost all of its inventory and equipment, according to a GoFundMe campaign store owner Lucy Yu set up to recuperate costs.
The independent bookstore reopened to a large crowd Sunday, when local authors, fellow booksellers and customers from all over New York City came out to celebrate the event.
“We are so excited to welcome you all back to our Yu & Me Books home,” the shop announced on Instagram. “We can’t wait to shed tears, laugh loudly, and open our hearts with all of you who have made us feel at home.”
Lucy Yu, owner of Yu & Me Books.Courtesy Lucy YuSince opening in 2021, Yu & Me Books has been a safe haven for Asian Americans amid a surge in hate crimes during the pandemic. Yu told NBC News in October 2021 that the shop was born out of a lifelong dream of opening a bookstore that highlighted immigrant stories, particularly from the Asian diaspora.
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