Noticing a lack of shelf space dedicated to immigrant stories and writers of color, Lucy Yu decided to create her own.
The result? Yu & Me Books, the city’s first Asian American queer-owned bookstore. Operating in Chinatown, the shop focuses on highlighting marginalized voices that are often overlooked by mainstream booksellers.
The shop goes beyond a traditional retail model, doubling as a café and bar designed to foster conversation.
Yu describes the environment as an ever-evolving, modular community hub, rather than just a place to buy reading material.
The venue hosts two to four events each week, ranging from debut author launches and writing workshops to beginner’s block printing classes and open mic nights hosted in partnership with local artists.
Curating a Unique Inventory
A core philosophy drives the bookstore’s selection process: if a title is readily available at other major shops, it likely will not be stocked here.
Instead, the focus remains on intentional curation that rotates frequently. New books arrive weekly, ensuring the displays look completely different from one visit to the next.
By constantly refreshing the inventory and hosting frequent gatherings at 44 Mulberry St., Yu aims to cultivate an intersectional space where patrons can discuss the differences and similarities of their identities while deepening their connection to the neighborhood.
