In the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown, a former Chinese medicine shop at 38 Waverly Place has undergone a remarkable transformation. Today, it stands as Unbounda unique blend of a Chinese-language bookstorecoffee bar, and community gathering space. The brainchild of Lala Huo, Unbound aims to fill a void in the Bay Area’s Chinese community by providing a space for cultural exchange, literary exploration, and social connection.
Unbound is not just a place filled with piles of books; it’s a modern, independent bookstore that serves as a public space for the community. Huo, a 30-year-old entrepreneur and avid reader, opened Unbound in December of last year, and the grand opening celebration is planned for the end of June. The store is currently the only independent Chinese-language bookstore in Chinatown, following the closure of several long-standing bookstores in the area.
The Birth of Unbound
Huo’s journey to creating Unbound began in early 2026. A longtime resident of the Bay Area since 2010, Huo had always struggled to find Chinese-language books in the United States. He would stock up during visits to China or order in bulk from, but the experience of browsing a physical store was something he missed dearly. Additionally, Huo was active in the Bay Area’s Chinese community, attending events and panels hosted by organizations like the Bay Area Chinese Culture Salon and the feminist open-mic series Wan Nü Stand Up.
The idea for Unbound came to Huo as he sought a solution to two persistent problems: the scarcity of Chinese-language books and the lack of a consistent venue for community events. Public libraries offered free space but required advance booking, while private venues were expensive and scattered across the Bay Area. Huo envisioned a fixed space that was affordable, conveniently located, and consistently available for events. Thus, Unbound was born.
A Unique Approach to Bookselling
Unbound’s vision sets it apart from other Chinese-language bookstores in the U.S., such as the famous Jifeng Bookstore in Washington D.C. Unlike many bookstores that rely on donations, Huo structured Unbound as a for-profit LLC. This business model allows the shop to generate multiple revenue streams by selling books, coffee, and crafts from local Asian artists. The strategy has already attracted a diverse clientele, including Chinatown regulars and tourists looking for a cup of coffee and unique souvenirs.
Huo has curated a mix of books from independent publishers in the United States, alongside titles from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. As an avid reader of nonfiction, Huo has recently become obsessed with The Snakehead by Patrick Radden Keefe, a book that tells the tale of Sister Ping, a variety-store owner in New York’s Chinatown who became a human-smuggling kingpin. The English edition has been a strong seller at the store, and Huo is excited that it is finally getting a traditional Chinese edition from a Taiwanese publisher.
Community Engagement and Events
Programming is central to Unbound’s identity. From the beginning, Huo has hosted a variety of events, including a silent book club every Thursday, used-book exchanges, movie nights, and author talks. One notable early project was the White Wall Projectwhich invited friends and passersby to respond to one of eight questions by writing their answers directly on the store’s walls. The answers are still visible, though some are now partially obscured by bookshelves.
At a recent event, writer M Lin discussed her 2026 short-story collection, The Memory Museumand then sang karaoke with the audience. The store’s grand opening at the end of June will feature a collaboration between Huo and Washington Post graphics journalist Youyou Zhou. They are creating a timeline of Chinese immigration to San Francisco, from the construction of the transcontinental railroad and the Gold Rush era to later waves of international students and white-collar workers. The timeline will be installed atop the store’s bookcases, inviting visitors to climb up and mark the year they arrived in the U.S.
The celebration will also include firecrackers, a traditional ritual for newly-opening Chinese businesses meant to ward off evil spirits, invite good fortune, and announce the shop’s arrival to the neighborhood. Huo’s vision for Unbound is clear: We want to take a down-to-Earth approach for Unbound. We want to satisfy our own reading and social needs and focus on serving the local community and the needs of local Chinese residents.
