Every storey has a story in a Cheung Sha Wan tong lau with cafe, bookshop, event space
Fred Lam was trekking 4,000 metres above sea level in Nepal. There, he got a call about renting a tong lau in Hong Kong's Cheung Sha Wan neighbourhood.
'Many people who love reading and travelling – whether they're backpackers or book lovers – dream of opening a cafe, a bar, a hostel or a bookstore. I was lucky,' the 45-year-old said.
'In this one building, I got to fulfil three of those wishes.'
With this five-storey building, Lam fulfilled his dream of opening a travel-themed bookshop last December.
Called Thirsty, the ground floor has a Turkish-style cafe. On the second floor is a bookshop. The floors above host a range of events. Lam manages the bookshop, while his partner runs the cafe.
From February to April, the space held discussions on travel, book club gatherings, film screenings and more.
'My idea of a perfect bookstore is quite old-school. It's a place where people and books can find each other,' Lam said. 'I hope this place can be a gathering point ... for people to connect, both intellectually and emotionally.'
After taking his daughter to school, this Hong Kong dad stops to sketch
A space to connect and explore
The owner explained that the name 'Thirsty' represented a longing for knowledge, experience and action.
'My ideal is for this place to be somewhere couples can hang out for a few hours, see an exhibition [and] have a coffee. I want it to be a one-stop spot,' Lam said.
While it might be tough to make money, he believes this space can help people explore and connect.
'Books give a sense of life ... If someone wants to learn, they can actually find real knowledge here,' he said.
Thirsty has travel-related books on everything from philosophy to writing and city guides. It also sells books about hiking, running, cycling, food, architecture, art and museums.
Another section focuses on helping people explore and understand Hong Kong's history, geography and culture.
Lam also hopes that hosting events can help the business stay afloat.
The shop owner shared that a school library club once brought about 30 students for a visit. Thirsty hosted a book talk for them and provided refreshments, and each student was also given money to buy a book.
Thirsty's rooftop is a space for community events. Photo: Edmond So
The meaning of travel
Over three decades, Lam has visited more than 100 countries. It all started in 1996 after Lam finished Form Five. He left Hong Kong alone for the first time to spend a year travelling in Australia.
'Travel to me meant being like a sponge,' he said. 'I was thrown into a completely unfamiliar world and just absorbed everything.'
Over time, he embraced his long journeys to new places. He experimented with different ways of travelling, such as volunteering, cycling and hiking.
After spending two years travelling the world, Lam returned to Hong Kong and launched a travel agency to guide others on their journeys abroad.
'To me, the meaning of travel is always evolving. It's a constantly shifting mode of life,' he said.
Now, he is focused on his work at Thirsty. Here, he hopes to help people 'travel' through books, drinks and events.
'This place brings me a lot of satisfaction,' Lam said.
'If it can become the only travel-themed bookstore in Hong Kong ... that would be incredibly fulfilling.'
Reflect: Do you think bookshops are important? Explain.
Why this story matters: It is not easy to keep a shop open in Hong Kong these days. But Fred Lam believes in Thirsty's mission of bringing people together to explore new ideas and places. It takes a lot of work to build spaces for people to connect.
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