Heart of Waverly, Cynthia & Jennifer Huie @onwaverly
- Kindred Curiosity
- Jul 5
- 3 min read
Meet Cynthia & Jennifer Huie, the community builders and sisters behind On Waverly.
Tucked away on Waverly Place, one of the oldest and most historic streets in San Francisco’s Chinatown, sits a storefront that is much more than a neighborhood shop. Founded by sisters Cynthia and Jennifer Huie, On Waverly is a cozy, beautifully intentional creative space built to uplift and showcase the incredible talent of AAPINH makers, authors, and artists.
Step inside their beautifully curated haven as we chat about how they’re cultivating a supportive community
that celebrates Asian American stories, creativity, and connection through literature, stationery, and community events.
Can you tell us about key milestones and significant events that have shaped your business’s journey up to the present day? (i.e. Jan 2023 - Established LLC for business, Mar 2023 - Officially opened business, etc.)
Opened On Waverly in Dec 2023
What do you tell yourself whenever you encounter a challenge or setback with your business?
Alright, let’s figure this out.
What is an aspect of being an entrepreneur that forced you to learn something new?
Everything, being an entrepreneur forces me to learn new things daily.
What are your favorite professional resources for running your business?
Consultants. I love working with people who can coach me through problems.
What risks have you taken that ended up a failure, what did you learn?
I don’t know. I don’t think of things in terms of success and failure, I think sometimes don’t meet expectations, but then you pivot. It's a life of constant iteration.
On Waverly was created to highlight AAPINH artists, authors, and makers — how do you define that mission, and what does it mean to you to center those voices?
For me, centering AAPINH voices isn't just a curatorial choice — it's the whole reason this space exists. Waverly Place itself has more than a century of AAPI history, and On Waverly is a continuation of that. When we stock an author, invite a maker, or feature an artist, we're making an argument that these stories belong here — not in a specialty section, not as an afterthought, but as the main event.
How does being located in San Francisco’s historic Chinatown shape the identity of On Waverly and the stories you choose to share?
Waverly Place is one of the oldest streets in Chinatown — it has its own history, its own stories, and its own community that's been here for generations. Being in this specific place means we're not just a bookstore or gift shop; we're a continuation of something much larger. That shapes everything — the books we carry, the artists we feature, the events we host — because the neighborhood itself is always the context.
How do the events you host extend the mission of On Waverly beyond retail — to community building and cultural conversation?
Retail is how we keep the lights on, but events are how we fulfill the mission. When we host an author talk, a book signing, or a cultural celebration, we're creating space for people to gather around stories and ideas that often don't get a platform elsewhere. That's really what On Waverly is — a place where community shows up for itself.
Are there partnerships (with artists, authors, nonprofits, or other small businesses) that have been particularly meaningful for On Waverly’s growth? If so, how did those collaborations start?
The partnerships and friendships that support On Waverly didn't happen overnight — they're relationships I've been building for decades, through every role I've had in this community. So when someone shows up for us, it genuinely means the world to me. We don't take any of it for granted, and we're so grateful for every person and organization that's chosen to be part of this with us.
What is the last thing you were curious about?
I’m curious about everything. History, art, design, social issues, how to make the world a more peaceful place.
What can the community help you with?
Come out and make friends in real life. Spend time reaching out to friends and family who might need a reason to go out for dinner. Choose small businesses when it's possible.
Share another Asian-women-owned small business or entrepreneur that inspires you!
Chandler from post.script
By establishing an intentional storefront that showcases AAPINH products and voices, Cynthia and Jennifer have shown how On Waverly is a sanctuary for connection and gives AAPINH voices a real place to belong. Thank you Cynthia and Jennifer for sharing your story and teaching us how to extend business into true community building.
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