Posted on May 7, 2023
A chapter ends for this historic Asian American bookstore, but its story continues
469
9
4
3
3
0
https://www.npr.org/2023/05/06/ [login to see] /eastwind-books-asian-american-activisim-rights-berkeley
The narrow storefront on University Avenue that once housed Eastwind Books of Berkeley now sits empty. The bookshelves are gone, dusty shadows on the pale yellow walls the only reminder of how tall they once stood.
Co-owner Harvey Dong's voice bounces off the walls, as he recalls the titles that used to fill the shop.
"The wall over there on the left, there was a section with social movements, activism, LGBTQ studies, also art books on origami, books on gardening, a religion section, philosophy section, Chinese medicine, martial arts," he says.
For decades, this store was an anchor for the Bay Area's Asian American community. Now, Harvey and his wife Beatrice, the store's co-owner, have decided to close the shop. They're both in their 70s and have aging parents to care for – and last weekend, they shut the doors for the final time.
While they're used to seeing this place packed with literature, Eastwind was never just about the books.
The narrow storefront on University Avenue that once housed Eastwind Books of Berkeley now sits empty. The bookshelves are gone, dusty shadows on the pale yellow walls the only reminder of how tall they once stood.
Co-owner Harvey Dong's voice bounces off the walls, as he recalls the titles that used to fill the shop.
"The wall over there on the left, there was a section with social movements, activism, LGBTQ studies, also art books on origami, books on gardening, a religion section, philosophy section, Chinese medicine, martial arts," he says.
For decades, this store was an anchor for the Bay Area's Asian American community. Now, Harvey and his wife Beatrice, the store's co-owner, have decided to close the shop. They're both in their 70s and have aging parents to care for – and last weekend, they shut the doors for the final time.
While they're used to seeing this place packed with literature, Eastwind was never just about the books.
A chapter ends for this historic Asian American bookstore, but its story continues
Posted from npr.org
Reading
Posted 1 y ago
Responses: 3
2
2
0
2
2
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Bummer. Hate when great places like that close. Glad Kepler's in MP is still around. A few years back they closed and the community freaked following which they helped them come back by reinventing their business model.
https://www.keplers.com/history_mission
https://www.keplers.com/history_mission
(2)
(0)
CPT (Join to see)
And thank goodness for CL. Parking is next to impossible; but, worth the trek.
https://citylights.com/
https://citylights.com/
(1)
(0)
0
0
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
...""Without Harvey and Bea needing to sit me down to explain anything, just them being there, and the work that they did – it made me feel Asian American. And it made me proud to be Asian American."
Jaide Lin, a UC Berkeley student, says she hopes a new generation can "continue to carry the torch" that Harvey and Beatrice held high.
"We're not going to let things stop here," Lin says. "And we're going to continue trying to open people's eyes to the necessity of including people's stories that reflect something closer to ourselves."
At the final event inside the now-empty shop, hosted by the local paper Berkeleyside, Beatrice spoke to that future – recalling the more than 100 young people who had worked at the shop through the decades.
"We see our role as a springboard," she says. "Some of our former staff are already volunteering to be the new face of our bookstore, they'll be the ones that will be organizing our events. So there's a bright future."
A photo of Harvey and employee Cheryl Truong, taken by Berkeleyside photographer Ximena Natera, is projected onto the wall at the farewell event.
She reminded attendees that she and Harvey would continue to curate the shelves of their bookstore – online. And amid the many tributes and congratulations and remembrances, Harvey felt compelled to remind everyone that their story, and the story of Eastwind Books of Berkeley, wasn't a eulogy.
"Today is not like a wake or a funeral, you know," he laughs. "No one's died, you know ... this is like a beginning."
...""Without Harvey and Bea needing to sit me down to explain anything, just them being there, and the work that they did – it made me feel Asian American. And it made me proud to be Asian American."
Jaide Lin, a UC Berkeley student, says she hopes a new generation can "continue to carry the torch" that Harvey and Beatrice held high.
"We're not going to let things stop here," Lin says. "And we're going to continue trying to open people's eyes to the necessity of including people's stories that reflect something closer to ourselves."
At the final event inside the now-empty shop, hosted by the local paper Berkeleyside, Beatrice spoke to that future – recalling the more than 100 young people who had worked at the shop through the decades.
"We see our role as a springboard," she says. "Some of our former staff are already volunteering to be the new face of our bookstore, they'll be the ones that will be organizing our events. So there's a bright future."
A photo of Harvey and employee Cheryl Truong, taken by Berkeleyside photographer Ximena Natera, is projected onto the wall at the farewell event.
She reminded attendees that she and Harvey would continue to curate the shelves of their bookstore – online. And amid the many tributes and congratulations and remembrances, Harvey felt compelled to remind everyone that their story, and the story of Eastwind Books of Berkeley, wasn't a eulogy.
"Today is not like a wake or a funeral, you know," he laughs. "No one's died, you know ... this is like a beginning."
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google