Busboys And Poets To Open Biggest Restaurant Yet In Columbia

COLUMBIA, MD — In 2005, the world was introduced to Busboys and Poets, a neighborhood coffeehouse, restaurant and bookstore that first set up roots in the Washington Metropolitan area. Now, Columbia will become its eighth location and the largest one yet.

With 10,771 square feet, Busboys and Poets in Columbia will be the furthest location from D.C. proper. Named in honor of American poet Langston Hughes who worked as a busboy at the Wardman Park Hotel in the 1920s, owner Andy Shallal is excited for the Columbia site.

“I think we have a lot of people that live in the suburbs, who may work in the city, but want to kick back a bit before they go out. It’s not practical to go home and come back,” he told the Washington Business Journal. “So we want to give them options where they are.”

The restaurant will be located at Mango Tree Road and Valencia Lane across from Merriweather Post Pavilion. It will have more than 400 seats, a second-floor terrace with outdoor seating, a bookstore and room for private events, readings, open mic nights and other programming. The $3 million project will be part of the 35-acre Merriweather District.