American lawyer turns new leaf to open bookstore in Hong Kong
Albert Wan closed his Atlanta law practice to reintroduce e-book readers to old-fashioned printed books
In 2016, Albert Wan closed the doors to his United States law firm. Now he has opened a bookstore in San Po Kong, an industrial area of Hong Kong. Crazy? Maybe. But Wan says the move is about challenging himself, to start a new chapter.
“I had my own law practice in Atlanta – mostly civil rights and criminal defence. I practised for 10 years and loved every minute of it, but it’s time for a change, a new challenge.”
When his wife, Jenny, accepted a history professor’s position at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Wan knew it was a chance not only to spend more time with his family (he was born in the US, but his parents are Hongkongers), but also to try a new industry.
Wan, a self-confessed e-book virgin, says that while the study is encouraging, he’s realistic about the industry. “I can’t stop a trend, and I’m not going head-to-head with Amazon,” he says, with a laugh.