Lunar New Year ‘Feels Right’ for Rebuilt NYC Bookshop
Modern York City’s Chinatown is preparing for the Lunar New Year, and for Lucy Yu, owner of Yu &. Me Books, the holiday carries a particularly poignant resonance this year. After a fire nearly forced the closure of her bookstore in 2023, Yu is looking forward to a fresh start with the arrival of the Year of the Horse, which began on February 10th, 2026.
“It doesn’t always feel like it’s the right time to have a new beginning at the end of December,” Yu told Sakshi Venkatraman of the BBC, adding that this year, the timing of Lunar New Year “feels right.” The bookstore, located in the heart of Chinatown, is decorated with lanterns and tapestries in anticipation of the celebrations.
The fire that struck Yu & Me Books in 2023 threatened a beloved neighborhood institution. The community responded with a fundraising campaign that raised nearly $370,000 to aid rebuild, according to a Facebook post cited by Newsdirectory3.com. Yu was able to reopen the store before the following Lunar New Year.
“I think we have a really deep understanding of looking out for each other,” Yu said. The Year of the Horse, she explained, is about “really strong, running start beginnings,” a sentiment that mirrors her own experience of rebuilding after the fire.
The reopening of Yu & Me Books was noted by The New York Times and Google News, highlighting its significance as a cultural hub for Chinatown. The neighborhood, Yu says, always comes alive with excitement during the Lunar New Year.
This year’s Lunar New Year celebrations come after a harsh winter in New York City, with snow only recently beginning to thaw after weeks of below-freezing temperatures, according to reporting by Europe Says. Despite the weather, Yu expressed her eagerness to move past the Year of the Snake and embrace the energy of the Year of the Horse.