Review: On Waverly Books and Gifts is On Point for Chinatown

While On Waverly Books & Gifts has been around since December 2023, I didn’t know about its existence until recently.  During one of our library book talks in the spring, a guest commented that On Waverly was one of the newest businesses opening in Chinatown since the pandemic.  Once I learned about the shop, that week, I sprang into action to check it out.

What I discovered was an artful space, full of color, wonder, plus tastefully selected books, clothing, and gifts. All items fit the AAPI theme perfectly with inside jokes only Asians could relate to.  One t-shirt says, TOISAN UNITED.  Toisan is a region in Guangdong, and many of the early Chinese to Chinatown were from Toisan in the mid-1800s.  Actually, the products and programming all reflect the values and culture of Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians (AAPINH).

The description on the website says it is a “cozy, curated shop and creative space.”  This is the type of shop I would have wanted to open myself. Owners Cynthia and Jennifer Huie are sisters who wanted to create a community haven that would bless both young and old.  And it is not just about retail shopping, it is truly an environment that encourages thought, comraderie, and discussion.  You don’t have to be Asian to love the space which sells posters, tote bags, cards, and souvenirs.  More than half of the wares are created by Bay Area Asian artists.  The brightly lit and friendly 1,300 square feet filled with bookshelves and gift tables is accessible to all.

The web site calendar is packed with activities for every age group. There are dumpling workshops, mental health panels focusing on Asian men, and past classes on needle felting to make a jumbo sushi.  And, we aren’t ashamed at all to promote our slide show and book talk for San Francisco’s Chinatown at 5:30 p.m. on July 11, the same night as the Chinatown Night Market. Put it on your calendar – it’s free.

The shop is located on the corner of Waverly Place and Washington Street, above Grant Avenue. It is open Monday through Saturday from 11-6, and Sundays 11-5. The store joins a handful of new businesses including: Edge on the Square, a contemporary Asian art gallery, Matcha Café Maiko tea and dessert shop, and a venue named Tangerine Peel selling dried tangerine peel as a tea and tonic.