La Casa Azul Bookstore opened in 2008 as an online resource that promoted literature by Latino writers, educational programming and children's literature. The "crowdfunded" establishment was successfully supported by 500 funders after Anaya-Cerda ran the '40K in 40 days' campaign. La Casa Azul Bookstore officially opened in "El Barrio" during the summer of 2012.

“Spanish Harlem, also known as "El Barrio" or East Harlem, is known for being the point of origin for a number of notable people: singer Marc Anthony, musician Frankie Cutlass, rapper Cam'ron, actor Al Pacino, rapper Tupac, poet Willie Perdomo, and bookstore owner Aurora Anaya-Cerda, who is the founder of La Casa Azul Bookstore.” Read the complete story here.