Young Entrepreneur Runs Coffee Shop With Free Book Library

In a quiet corner of Yong’an, Fujian, a 31-year-old former telecom worker has built more than just a coffee shop. Tired of the usual routine, he quit his stable job, traveled across cities to learn, and eventually launched a space where books, coffee, and entrepreneurship intersect—all sparked by a childhood memory of reading Rich Dad Poor Dad. This isn’t your average café, and the secret isn’t in the espresso machine.

The yy (YY Startup Coffee) lets customers swap any book for a free cup of coffee—and then borrow that book or others from the in-house library for free. Since opening October 24, 2015, the shop has collected over 70 donated titles in just four days, with plans to grow the collection to 300 or more.

What Is This Book-for-Coffee Exchange?

Located on Xinliu Road in Yong’an’s Yanxi Subdistrict, YY Startup Coffee is the brainchild of Zheng Zhi, who wanted to create a meeting point for entrepreneurs and thinkers. The gray cement floors, whitewashed brick walls, and blue-painted roof set the scene for something unusual: a tiny lending library inside a coffee shop. The main draw? “Use one book to get one coffee,” Zheng says. That’s the shop’s signature book-for-coffee trade.

The entrance features a four-tier bookshelf holding around 70 donated books. But there’s a twist: if you want to borrow a book to take home and read, you have to buy its original donor a coffee as thanks. It’s a simple social contract that encourages sharing, reading, and community building—all centered around coffee.

Why Did the Owner Start This Project?

Zheng Zhi, 31, is not your typical coffee shop owner. Once a client manager at a local telecom company, he passed his probation exam in 2014 but chose to resign months later. This wasn’t his first leap: back in 2007, while studying e-commerce at Fuzhou University, he started selling anime merchandise instead of interning. Over the years, he worked in real estate, electronics retail, and even helped develop a mobile news app for his then-employer, Sanming Mobile.

His original plan for YY Startup Coffee was to build a networking hub for entrepreneurs. The book exchange? Just a viral marketing stunt. “I got the idea from reading Rich Dad Poor Dad. Books changed my thinking, and I wanted to inspire others,” Zheng says. But the response stunned him—within four days of opening, people were lining up with books, not just for coffee, but for connection.

More Than Coffee: A Startup Community Hub

YY Startup Coffee quickly evolved into more than a café with books. It’s now a physical “friends circle” for local entrepreneurs from different generations. Take Zhang Deshui, 39, who runs a goji leaf tea shop. He had been struggling to build an online brand and lacked digital skills—until he met Zheng. With Zheng’s help, Zhang gained basic knowledge of internet tools and strategy, sparking new ideas for his business.

Today, around 10 entrepreneurs—ranging from Gen Z to Baby Boomers—regularly meet at YY. Their ventures span industries like poultry farming, traditional liquor, and more. The founders are also planning the first Sanming City Project Pitch Competition, where participants present business ideas via PowerPoint, network, and even post their pitches online to attract collaborators. “We want open cooperation, not closed doors. That’s the heart of this place,” Zheng explains.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the book-for-coffee exchange work at YY Startup Coffee?

Customers can bring any book to exchange for one free cup of coffee. The shop has a dedicated bookshelf for these donated titles. If a visitor wants to borrow a book to take home, they must buy the original donor a coffee as a thank-you. This encourages sharing and social interaction around reading and coffee.

What is the goal of the book collection at YY Startup Coffee?

Owner Zheng Zhi aims to gather at least 300 books through the exchange program. While the shop started with around 70 books in its first four days, the long-term plan is to build a substantial, free-to-borrow library that fosters reading and discussion among customers and entrepreneurs.

Who can use the book library at YY Startup Coffee?

The in-house library is open to all customers of the coffee shop. Anyone who donates a book can borrow other books for free, and those who wish to take books home must reciprocate by buying the donor a coffee. The library is part of the café’s community-building initiative.

Is YY Startup Coffee just a café or does it serve another purpose?

While it functions as a regular coffee shop, YY Startup Coffee also serves as a hub for entrepreneurs. Founded by Zheng Zhi, it aims to connect startups and investors, host project pitching events, and foster collaboration. It has become a meeting point for people in various industries, from Gen Z to older business owners.

How did the owner of YY Startup Coffee come up with the idea?

Zheng Zhi was inspired by the book Rich Dad Poor Dad, which influenced his view on the importance of entrepreneurial thinking and reading. Originally, the book exchange was a marketing idea to attract attention online. However, it quickly became a core part of the café’s identity and community appeal.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee for Reading & Brewing

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