Small Business Saturday: Support these AAPI-owned bookstores

By Jane Park, AsAmNews Intern

While Black Friday remains one of the most anticipated and hectic days in retail, there’s a lesser-known shopping holiday that immediately follows: Small Business Saturday.

American Express reserved the day after Black Friday for Small Business Saturday, per Forbes, encouraging consumers to shop small after going on a spree. More than 64 million shoppers are expected to turn out for this year’s Small Business Saturday.

In fact, there’s a psychological effect to shopping at small businesses as opposed to big retailers on Black Friday. Consumers are more aware of the contributions they’re making on every purchase.

This is especially true for AAPI-owned businesses, which not only employ and serve AAPIs but act as a hub and resource for local communities. AAPI-owned bookstores in particular carry a vast array of works that may not be found in major book retailers, as well as host workshops, speaking events and more that are catered to AAPI communities.

Check out some of these Asian-owned bookstores across the U.S. to support on Small Business Saturday and thereafter:

• Atomic Books: This Baltimore-based bookstore specializes in comic books and books on art and design. It will have events and sales for both Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.
• Bel Canto Books Retro Row: Located in Long Beach, CA, Bel Canto is owned by Filipina American poet Jhoanna Belfer. The bookstore also hosts special events, including one for Small Business Saturday, and monthly book clubs.
• Belonging Books: This pop-up bookstore in Cape Cod hosts programs and events to form a community space for underrepresented groups. Belonging Books also offers a scholarship fund to participate in one of its programs or workshops, which donors may contribute to.
• East Village Bookshop: This Sacramento, CA bookstore has over 10,000,000 texts in its online catalogue. East Village Bookshop also hosts events, like a holiday book crawl throughout December.
• Oriental Culture Enterprises (Eastern Bookstore): In the heart of Manhattan’s Chinatown sits one of the largest Chinese bookstores in the U.S., according to its website. Eastern Bookstore offers Chinese books from publishers in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The bookstore also has an art gallery and hosts events and classes. It will have a special sale for the Thanksgiving weekend.
• Eastwind Books of Berekley: While the storefront in Berkeley, CA closed after 41 years last year, one of the country’s first Asian American bookstores fulfills online orders. Eastwind Books will collaborate with Marcus Books, a Black-owned bookstore also in the Bay, to co-host a Holiday Bookfest at coffee shop Kinfolx on Sunday, Dec. 15.
• Face in a Book: Based in El Dorado, CA, Face in a Book not only sells books but jewelry, puzzles and other gifts. It also hosts book clubs and events, including a celebration and meet up of authors Reidr Daniels and Lisa Riddiough on Small Business Saturday.
• Femme Fire Books: This feminist bookstore in Jacksonville, FL offers works by BIPOC authors. It also hosts events. For Black Friday, there will be free shipping for all books purchased on its website.
• Fong Tsai Books: Based in Houston, Fong Tsai specializes in Asian-language books and audio-visual material in Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese.
• Giant Robot Store: This shop in Los Angeles features a wide range of Asian-inspired books, toys, art, stationery and other novelties. According to its website, Giant Robot is frequently “cited as the birthplace for Asian Pop Culture products and Uglydolls.”
• A Good Used Book: Also located in Los Angeles, A Good Used Book will host a Black Friday Book Party with imported beer and used books for a dollar. Aside from events, the bookstore also offers stationery, gifts and merch, including stickers and tote bags.
• JF Books: The sole Chinese-language bookstore in Washington, D.C. is located in Dupont Circle. JF Books carries books from Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as works banned in mainland China — where the bookstore is considered controversial. Owner Yu Miao was forced to close the bookstore’s Shanghai location in 2018. JF Books also hosts events with academics, many of which are upcoming in December.
• Maomi Bookstore: This Chinese bookstore and cafe sits in the Chinatown neighborhood of Chamblee, GA. Maomi sells Chinese, Taiwanese and other Asian books and supplies, along with hosting events like calligraphy workshops.
• Nā Mea Hawai’i: Located in Honolulu, Nā Mea Hawai’i is primarily a book and art store that retails books, accessories, clothing, stationery and more products by Native Hawaiian artists. The store also hosts events, including a Ni’ihau shell workshop.
• Native Books Hawai’i: Nā Mea Hawai’i’s sister store has the “largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific Island books and resources in the Hawaiian islands,” per its website. Native Books is located in the Chinatown district of Honolulu.
• Now Serving: This Los Angeles cookbook store only carries cookbooks, along with cooking tools, aprons, spices and more cooking-related items. Now Serving also hosts events.
• Philippine Expressions Bookshop: Also in Los Angeles is this bookstore dedicated to various books by Pinoy authors — from culture and history to cookbooks, coffee table books and more. It also carried indigenous memorabilia and artifacts before they were donated to museums and California State University. Philippine Expressions Bookshop also hosts events, namely for AAPI Heritage Month, Women’s History Month and Filipino American History Month.
• Reading in Public Bookstore + Cafe: This bookstore and cafe in West Des Moines is having a Black Friday sale of 15% off on books with a black cover. It will be closed on Sunday, Dec. 1 to recover from Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. Reading in Public often hosts events.
• Townie Books: Located in Crested Butte, CO, Townie Books will have a special non-fiction sale for Small Business Saturday. The bookstore, which also has a cafe, hosts a book club and events, including a Holiday Speed Date-a-Book.
• Yu and Me Books: In Chinatown, Yu and Me is New York City’s first Asian American woman-owned bookstore, according to its website. The beloved bookstore reopened earlier this year after a fire broke out in an upstairs apartment. Yu and Me hosts a book club and events featuring AAPI authors.
• 27th Letter Books: This Detroit-based bookstore strives to highlight historically underrepresented writers and works. It hosts two book clubs, one of which focuses on Asian American authors. Despite its Black Friday closure, 27th Letter will be open on Small Business Saturday.

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