September 24, 2019
Media Contact:
Scott L. Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412
COLUMBIA, MD – Tomorrow, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will break ground on the nation’s largest Busboys & Poets, the first in the Baltimore region. The Washington, DC-based restaurant, bookstore and event space will construct 10,700-square-foot, two-story location in the Merriweather District of Downtown Columbia. Busboys & Poets currently has seven locations across the Washington Metropolitan area and is a cultural hub for artists and activists, as well as a highly rated restaurant. The groundbreaking ceremony will feature a HoCoPoLitSo spoken word performance, as well as remarks from County Executive Calvin Ball, Council Chair Christiana Mercer Rigby, Council member Deb Jung, Howard Hughes Columbia President Greg Fitchitt, and Busboys and Poets founder Andy Shallal.
“Howard County, a place where we value inclusion, culture, learning, empowerment, and the arts, will be the perfect home for the flagship Busboys & Poets, as we continue to create a vibrant, fun, and walkable hub in Columbia,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “Busboys & Poets is beloved across the DC-metro area for good food, wonderful books, and exciting arts and lecture events. We are thrilled to welcome them to our new Merriweather District, where they will join some of the nation’s the best entertainment amenities, innovative businesses, and natural beauty. The future of the best city in America continues to grow brighter.”
Busboys & Poets will be a stand-alone, two-story building featuring indoor and outdoor seating, all-day dining options, and a curated book collection. The store will showcase books and authors—on both a local and national level—who have contributed to conversations around social change. The grand opening of the Merriweather District is scheduled for 2020.
WHAT: Groundbreaking ceremony for Busboys and Poets in Downtown Columbia
WHEN: Wednesday, September 25 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: 6100 Merriweather Drive, Columbia, MD 21044
