Busboys and Poets
This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2017) |
Busboys and Poets | |
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Takoma (Washington, D.C.) | |
Website | https://www.busboysandpoets.com/ |
Busboys and Poets is a full-service restaurant, bar, bookstore, coffee shop, and events venue in the
Establishment
The first Busboys and Poets lies two blocks from U Street, a commercial corridor in Northwest Washington, known as "Black Broadway" in its heyday. Concerned that his creation of a trendy artistic space would clash with U Street's traditional identity, Shallal reached out for support from community leaders, neighborhood groups, church organizations, schools and radio stations prior to opening the location. Shallal obtained a loan from black-owned Industrial Bank, located at 11th and U streets.[2]
The name refers to American poet Langston Hughes, who worked as a busboy at the Wardman Park Hotel in the 1930s, 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.[2]
Shallal painted the giant civil rights movement-themed mural covering one wall of the restaurant, titled Peace in Struggle Wall. He refuses to sign the mural, saying this would be a "final gesture" that would preclude him from making revisions later. The collage depicts civil rights icons including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. It features the words of Langston Hughes, "Let America be America again / Let it be the dream it used to be."[3]
Reception
Shallal had said he would keep Busboys running even if just broke even, but it proved a success from the beginning, even without committing an advertising budget. C-SPAN, NBC News and ABC's "Good Morning America" all filmed segments inside the restaurant within the restaurant's first few months. Kevin Zeese, spokesperson for Ralph Nader's 2004 presidential campaign and director of Democracy Rising, related to The Hill, "Boom! It just became an incredibly important landmark for the community. It definitely has a progressive feel to it; it's in the 'hood, not disjointed from the community like the National Press Club and Capitol Hill are."[4] Shallal said of the restaurant's popularity, "I've opened many restaurants, [but] this is the first time that people came in and got it right away."[5]
The Busboys clientele has included
In November 2023, Busboys and Poets was cited by
References
- ^ D.C. Restaurant Becomes Hub of Anti-War Activity, Voice of America, September 23, 2005.
- ^ a b Rainbow Room: The Busboys and Poets Controversy, Todd Kliman, Washingtonian, December 1, 2005.
- ^ The Muralist, David Montgomery, Washington Post, May 1, 2006.
- ^ Busboys and Poets oozes blue-state cool, Elana Schor, The Hill, February 2, 2006.
- ^ Arab Americans Give Back to Their Country, Jamie Kim, Washington Report, December 2005.
- ^ [1], December 2023.
Further reading
External links