Eslite Enters Huwei Contract Hall: Historic Building Transformed into a Trendy Bookstore

▲ Eslite Life is expected to move into Huwei Contract Hall by the end of this year. (Photo / Courtesy of Yunlin County Government website)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

What kind of sparks will a stylish Eslite bookstore ignite when combined with a historic police building? On November 1, Eslite Life and Yunlin County Government signed an agreement, with plans to move into Huwei Contract Hall by the end of this year. Huwei Contract Hall is a historical building in Yunlin County. It was originally an emergency disaster relief facility used by the fire department during the Japanese colonial period to observe fire locations within the jurisdiction and complete reports. The four-story building is also the tallest structure in the area.

Eslite Life, set to open in Huwei Contract Hall by the end of this year, will feature a comprehensive book section, a style-focused stationery shop, an art and cultural exhibition area, and a light food and coffee zone. It aims to create a reading space that promotes “cultural co-creation, creative symbiosis, and shared living.” Eslite stated that integrating with the local community and leading the flourishing development of local cultural and creative industries is one of its key operational goals. The company also plans to recruit local talent in Yunlin County.

Su Chih-fen, Magistrate of Yunlin County, said that the Contract Hall where Eslite will be located, along with its counterpart across the street — the Yunlin Story House (formerly the Japanese-era district governor’s residence) and the Yunlin Puppet Theater (formerly the Japanese-era district office) — form a strong network of revitalized historical buildings. Together, they create a vibrant arts and culture space that injects new energy into the development of Huwei.