Yu & Me Books
An independent Chinatown bookstore focused on Asian American and diasporic writing, community programming, and literary events.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Yu & Me Books is an independent bookstore in Manhattan's Chinatown, founded by Lucy Yu and opened in December 2021. The shop developed from Yu's long-standing ambition to combine bookselling with a welcoming community space. Before opening the store, Yu had worked in chemical engineering and supply-chain management and was employed by a New York food startup during the COVID-19 pandemic. She used personal savings alongside a community GoFundMe campaign to establish the business at a time when physical bookselling faced substantial operational and economic pressure. The store's identity is closely associated with Asian American literature and the broader Asian diaspora. Its inventory includes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, memoir, children's books, and other works that speak to Asian American experiences and communities. Yu & Me Books has also presented itself as a social and cultural space rather than simply a retail outlet, hosting author conversations, readings, open-mic events, workshops, and community gatherings. The bookstore has welcomed writers including Ocean Vuong, Sayaka Murata, Hua Hsu, Sally Wen Mao, Neema Avashia, Anton Hur, Susan Bernofsky, Sam Bett, and Marie Myung-Ok Lee. Its programming has extended beyond literary events, including plant-potting activities and collaborations supporting organizations addressing anti-Asian hate. The business has been described as the first queer Asian American bookstore and as the only bookstore in New York City owned by an Asian American woman. Its opening coincided with heightened public concern about anti-Asian violence during the pandemic, and Yu positioned the store as a safe and affirming place for Asian American and queer communities. These cultural and community functions are central to the brand's positioning and distinguish it from a purely transactional bookseller. On July 4, 2023, a fire in a residential unit above the store killed a tenant, Frank Yee, and caused extensive damage to the building and bookstore. More than a thousand books were permanently damaged, forcing the original location to close. Yu launched a fundraising campaign to replace inventory and finance reconstruction. The campaign quickly attracted support from thousands of contributors, including public figures and writers, and ultimately raised $369,555. Additional support came through benefit readings, auctions, temporary retail locations, and assistance from other independent booksellers, local businesses, and community organizations. During the rebuilding period, Yu & Me Books continued limited operations through pop-up shops and events, later using space at Market Line Food Hall. Welcome to Chinatown provided storage for surviving inventory, while nearby businesses including Golden Diner assisted with insurance and rebuilding logistics. Although the initial expectation was that reconstruction might take approximately a year, the bookstore reopened at its original Mulberry Street location on January 28, 2024, after seven months. The rebuilt premises included an expanded basement with additional shelving and customer seating. The reopening was marked by support from authors, booksellers, and local community members, including Min Jin Lee. Yu & Me Books remains an independent, community-oriented bookstore whose proposition combines curated bookselling with cultural programming and representation. Its public activities include collaborations with institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and participation in national literary events, including a 2024 Murakami Midnight Party connected to the release of Haruki Murakami's The City and Its Uncertain Walls.
History
Yu & Me Books was founded by Lucy Yu, who grew up as an avid reader in Los Angeles and had long imagined operating a combined bookstore and coffee shop. Her professional background was in chemical engineering and supply-chain management. While working for a food startup in New York during the COVID-19 pandemic, Yu began developing the bookstore concept and decided to locate it in Manhattan's Chinatown. The store opened in December 2021 with support from a GoFundMe campaign and Yu's personal savings. Its launch took place during a period of heightened anti-Asian hate and public concern about the safety and representation of Asian American communities. Yu conceived the bookstore as both a commercial bookseller and a welcoming community venue. Its selection emphasizes literature connected to Asian American life and the Asian diaspora, while its programming includes author events, readings, open mics, workshops, and other gatherings. The store has been characterized as the first queer Asian American bookstore and the only bookstore in New York City owned by an Asian American woman. Yu & Me Books quickly became associated with literary and cultural programming. Events have featured writers such as Ocean Vuong, Sayaka Murata, Hua Hsu, Sally Wen Mao, Neema Avashia, Nini Nguyen, Anton Hur, Susan Bernofsky, Sam Bett, and Marie Myung-Ok Lee. The business has also collaborated with outside organizations, including a Lunar New Year pop-up with the Metropolitan Museum of Art that supported Soar Over Hate, a nonprofit initiative addressing anti-Asian hate. The bookstore's development was interrupted on July 4, 2023, when a fire broke out in a residential unit above the shop. The incident killed tenant Frank Yee and caused serious damage throughout the building. More than a thousand books were lost or permanently damaged, and the store had to close its original premises. Yu estimated that the business would need approximately $60,000 to replace inventory and $80,000 for rebuilding, then opened a public fundraising campaign. The campaign exceeded expectations almost immediately, receiving more than $230,000 within its first day and eventually reaching $369,555. Rebuilding involved a broad network of supporters. Authors, public figures, independent booksellers, restaurants, local nonprofits, and neighborhood organizations contributed through donations, benefit events, auctions, storage, and practical assistance. Yu & Me Books maintained a public presence during closure through temporary pop-up locations and events, including a later operation at Market Line Food Hall. Welcome to Chinatown stored remaining inventory, and Golden Diner helped with insurance and reconstruction planning. Other booksellers, including Archestratus Books, Astoria Bookshop, Books Are Magic, and Book Club Bar, organized or participated in solidarity efforts. The store reopened on January 28, 2024, seven months after the fire, despite an earlier expectation that repairs might take about a year. The original storefront was reconstructed, and the basement was remodeled to hold more books and create customer seating. The reopening drew authors, booksellers, and community members, including Min Jin Lee. The rebuilt store continued Yu's original model of combining retail bookselling with literary events and community space. In 2024, it was also selected as one of eight United States bookstores for a Murakami Midnight Party associated with the publication of Haruki Murakami's The City and Its Uncertain Walls.
- 2024
Reopens at Mulberry Street
[1]Yu & Me Books reopened on January 28 after seven months of reconstruction, with an expanded basement and new seating.
- 2023
Fire damages the original bookstore
[1]A July 4 fire in an upstairs residential unit caused extensive damage to the building and bookstore and destroyed or damaged more than a thousand books.
- 2023
Rebuilding fundraiser reaches $369,555
[1]A community fundraising campaign supported replacement inventory and reconstruction after the fire.
- 2021
Store founded and opened
[1]Lucy Yu opened Yu & Me Books in Manhattan's Chinatown in December after combining community fundraising with personal investment.
Products and positioning
Independent, queer Asian American bookstore and community cultural space centered on Asian American and diasporic literature.
Bookselling · 2021
Curated books
Yu & Me Books sells a broad selection of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, memoir, and children's books, with particular attention to works representing Asian American lives, histories, identities, and the wider Asian diaspora. The assortment supports the store's role as a specialist independent bookseller while remaining broad enough to serve neighborhood readers and event audiences.
Events · 2021
Literary and community programming
The bookstore extends its offering through author conversations, readings, open mics, workshops, and cultural gatherings. Past programming has included events with Ocean Vuong, Sayaka Murata, Hua Hsu, and other writers, as well as activities such as plant-potting workshops and collaborative cultural events.
Marketing campaigns
- 2023Post-fire rebuilding fundraiser
United States
Following the July 2023 fire, Yu organized a campaign to replace damaged inventory and rebuild the bookstore. Benefit readings, auctions, pop-ups, and solidarity actions by other booksellers supplemented the online fundraising effort.
Outcome. The campaign ultimately raised $369,555, helping support reconstruction and the bookstore's return to its original location.
- 2023Lunar New Year collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art
United States
Yu & Me Books participated in a Lunar New Year pop-up with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, linking bookselling and cultural programming with support for Soar Over Hate.
- 2021Founding community fundraiser
United States
A GoFundMe campaign helped provide initial funding for the bookstore, supplementing Lucy Yu's personal savings and supporting the launch in Chinatown.
Outcome. The campaign raised approximately $16,000 and contributed to the store's December 2021 opening.
Brand decisions
2023
Continue operations through temporary venues after the fireOtherBackground
The July 2023 building fire made the original Mulberry Street premises unusable and damaged a substantial portion of the inventory.
Action taken
Yu & Me Books used pop-up shops, literary events, and later Market Line Food Hall space while reconstruction, insurance work, storage, and fundraising proceeded.
Aftermath
The business maintained public activity during closure and reopened its rebuilt original location in January 2024.
- Archestratus Books — Participated in solidarity efforts supporting Yu & Me Books after the fire.
- Astoria Bookshop — Participated in solidarity efforts supporting the bookstore's recovery.
- Books Are Magic — Participated in bookseller solidarity efforts following the fire.
- Book Club Bar — Participated in support efforts for Yu & Me Books.
2021
Launch an Asian American community bookstore in ChinatownStrategyBackground
Lucy Yu developed the bookstore during the COVID-19 pandemic and amid heightened concern about anti-Asian hate and representation in cultural institutions.
Action taken
Yu opened an independent bookstore whose inventory and programming emphasized Asian American and diasporic perspectives while also providing a community gathering space.
Aftermath
The store became associated with literary events, community programming, and representation for Asian American and queer readers.
Recent events
- 2024
Yu & Me Books reopens after seven-month reconstruction[1]
Other
The bookstore returned to its original Mulberry Street location on January 28, 2024, with a rebuilt storefront and a remodeled basement providing additional shelving and seating.
- 2024
Yu & Me Books participates in Murakami Midnight Party[1]
Product launch · Campaign
The store was scheduled to be one of eight United States bookstores hosting a midnight event connected to the release of Haruki Murakami's The City and Its Uncertain Walls.
- 2023
Fire forces Yu & Me Books to close[1]
Other
A July 4 fire in a residential unit above the bookstore killed a tenant and severely damaged the building, including the bookstore's inventory and premises.
- 2023
Community fundraiser supports bookstore rebuilding[1]
Other
A fundraising campaign launched after the fire received broad community support and ultimately raised $369,555 for inventory replacement and reconstruction.
- 2021
Yu & Me Books opens in Manhattan's Chinatown[1]
Other
Lucy Yu opened the independent bookstore in December 2021 with a focus on Asian American and diasporic books and community programming.
Sources2 sources
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