About Busboys & Poets
Busboys and Poets is a community gathering place. First established in 2005 Busboys and Poets was created by owner Anas "Andy" Shallal, an Iraqi-American artist, activist and restaurateur. After opening, the flagship location at 14th and V Streets, NW (Washington DC), the neighboring residents and the progressive community, embraced Busboys, especially activists opposed to the Iraq War. Busboys and Poets is now located in three distinctive neighborhoods in the Washington Metropolitan area and is a community resource for artists, activists, writers, thinkers and dreamers.
Why The Name?
The name refers to American poet Langston Hughes, who worked as a busboy at the Wardman Park Hotel in the 1920s, prior to gaining recognition as a poet. Rejected ideas for the restaurant's name include Writers Block Cafe, Broken Bread Cafe and White Rabbit Cafe, the latter inspired by The Matrix.
Local First
Busboys and Poets is a proud member of Local First DC.
Busboys & Poets is proud to be a Certified B Corporation™
When you support a Certified B Corporation™, you?re supporting a better way to do business. Certified B Corporations™ meet rigorous, independent standards of social and environmental performance. They are creating greater economic opportunity, strengthening local communities, and preserving the environment.
As of July 2008, there are over 120 Certified B Corporations™, representing a diverse $900+ million marketplace. Learn how B Corporations™ benefit all of us at www.bcorporation.net.
B Corps. A better way to do business. Find out for yourself at www.bcorporation.net/Busboysandpoets.