The shop's owner, Mr. Liu, says his grandfather started the business in the Qing Dynasty. At that time there were many pirates and thieves around, so he constructed it with a special mezzanine where rice could be stored and employees could sleep. The mezzanine is enclosed but for two small decorative windows, keeping outsiders from seeing inside, and also protecting the employees from attacks.
米店劉老闆表示，他的祖父在清朝即開始經營米店，當時由於海盜猖獗，於是興建了特殊的「半樓」建築；在一樓大廳上方築一個閣樓式的半樓，可以儲放米糧，也可以充當夥計的臥室；半樓只留兩扇雕花欄窗，一方面防止外人窺見樓內動靜，一方面也可以避免槍彈攻擊。