Collaboration between Michael Frid, Sameer Auluck, and Giridhar Bonu

On July 4th, 2023, Yu & Me Books was devastated by a fire that broke out in the residential unit above the store. The fire caused significant smoke and water damage, leading to the temporary closure of the bookstore. Lucy Yu, the store owner, immediately launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover expenses such as staff wages, damaged inventory, and insurance deductibles. Despite the setback, Yu and her staff quickly pivoted to hosting pop-up events around the city and temporarily relocating to a space at the Market Line at Essex Market in Lower Manhattan. With overwhelming support from the community, including authors like Min Jin Lee and Celeste Ng, the crowdfunding campaign exceeded its goal, resulting in over $300,000 in donations which aided in the store’s recovery efforts. Additionally, through events organized by the community, including a book launch with Hua Hsu and a concert at Rockwood Music Hall, Yu & Me Books received additional support during its rebuilding process. Despite many hurdles, the bookstore finally reopened its doors to the public on January 28, 2024, celebrating its return to Mulberry Street in Chinatown.