Yu and Me Books
A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
Yu and Me Books is the first Asian-American woman-owned bookstore in NYC, showcasing diverse voices and immigrant stories not typically seen in other bookstores.
Yu and Me Books sits on the location of a former funeral supply store, and you can see remnants of the past in its signage and shelves. Instead of funeral paper goods, you can find books by underrepresented authors on its shelves and Asian American art and photography on its walls. There’s even a cozy reading room in the back and a selection of beer, wine, and coffee to sip on while you read.
Lucy Yu opened her bookstore on December 11th to “create a home she never found in a bookstore growing up.” The bookstore’s abbreviation Y.M. is her mother’s initials and represents how important her mother is to her and how their stories intertwine. During the pandemic, a close friend passed away and made her realize how fragile life was. Her friend had always pursued his dreams, ultimately leading her to open her bookstore.
Lucy has worked towards opening Yu and Me Books for over a year. She collected books from thrift stores and even created a GoFundMe campaign to help with start-up costs. She manages the store by day while juggling her full-time job as a supply chain manager.
She chose to open her bookstore in Chinatown, where she has many fond memories. Growing up in California, Lucy spent every weekend in Los Angeles’ Chinatown getting groceries, taking art classes, and sharing a large Vietnamese iced coffee from the boba shop at the supermarket with her mom. Having moved around many cities, she always feels at home in Chinatown.
Lucy hopes that her bookstore will serve as an inclusive space that offers book selections with more Asian, Black and Latinx representation. There is even a shelf full of books featuring Chinatown. In the future, she plans to host author events and start a book club.
Welcome to the neighborhood, Lucy!
P.S. “A Place for Us” is one of Lucy’s favorite books right now. It is a story about love, identity, belonging, and what it means to be an American family today.
📍 Yu and Me Books
44 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013
