A Manhattan Chinatown bookstore, Yu & Me Books, owned by an Asian American woman, has received an outpouring of support after a Fourth of July fire ravaged the premises. The bookstore, which quickly became a community hub, has surpassed its $150,000 GoFundMe goal, raising over $250,000 as of Friday morning. Notable figures like actor Simu Liu and authors Celeste Ng and Min Jin Lee have contributed to the cause.
The fire, which ignited in a residential unit above the store on Tuesday, has left the bookstore with extensive smoke and water damage to its inventory, furniture, and the building itself. The cause of the fire remains undetermined. Owner Lucy Yu announced on social media that the store will remain closed indefinitely, with repairs and renovations anticipated to take a year. Donations will be used to replace damaged equipment, support staff salaries, purchase new furniture, and cover other necessary expenses.
Opened in December 2021, Yu & Me Books distinguished itself as New York City's first Asian American woman-owned bookstore. Yu's vision was to create a space that highlighted stories from immigrant communities and people of color. The bookstore quickly became a sanctuary amidst the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic, offering a welcoming environment with regular author readings, open mic nights, and various community events.
