Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Wish List




Today Howard Hughes breaks ground for a new location of the popular Busboys and Poets restaurant/bookstore. In honor of this event, here’s an online conversation from 2015 where Busboys and Poets makes an appearance.

What is one business that doesn't exist in Columbia, that you wish did? - - July 15, 2015


An open all night diner. An old fashioned ice cream parlor.

The Pub.

A kosher eatery

A good old fashioned Fish Fry.

Dim Sum restaurant!

Seafood restaurant 


Maybe it's because I grew up in a town that had a video store, a grocery store, a pizza place, a Chinese place, laser tag, tiny indoor mini golf, and gas--but I cannot imagine Columbia does not have enough businesses!

I long for a place that has truly feisty baba ghanouj like Egyptian Pizza in Baltimore.


A good deli (Attmans or comparable)


Ben's Chili Bowl


Busboys and Poets


The Container Store!


Miss Shirley's, a seafood restaurant, Boxwood Collection, great deli. No more chain restaurants.


Nightclubs, Indie theatres, gay bars, tattoo shops...


Wicked Waffle (currently located in D.C. & Bethesda)


Crate and Barrel and the Container Store


A gentleman's establishment!


Theatre like Landmark Bethesda Row that plays indie and foreign films with food/wine and lounge seating.


IHop!


I second the vote for indie/foreign films, with or without food/wine.


An area where the rents for businesses are not exorbitant which 

would allow privately owned creative businesses to exist.

Long John Silvers


IKEA


Gelato shop, Sweetgreen (lots in DC), Burger Lounge (San Diego business)


Greek place with souvlaki and gyros!


More job training places ! Is it bad that I didn't say a restaurant ? And if it were a food business I say bring back Produce Galore and Bun Penny.


MicroCenter. I miss CompUSA even tho my wallet doesn't.


Marijuana dispensary


Jewish style deli


More farm to table organic restaurants


I found out this year Columbia has a film society. $35 for the year, foreign films, at the Smith Theater. Well kept secret.


More Italian restaurants, non franchise.


Jack in the Box


Empty nester homes or condos in downtown Columbia.


 ...we already had a Jack in the Box in Wilde Lake back in the 70's.


Year-round farmer's market


Sonic


A restaurant - not a grocery store - with a substantial salad bar. Columbia used to have one and I miss it all the time.


We need an affordable and accessible women's health center, like a planned parenthood.


A theater that shows independent films


Panera in Dorsey Hall Village Center!


Fogo de Chão 


Drive in movies


Dairy Queen.


Cook-out (fast food chain)


The Container Store


Jamaican/Caribbean Restaurants


Popeyes, Bonefish, Texas Roadhouse -- hard to choose between 

those three.

Bonefish


Bun Penny


More vegetarian /organic / farm to table restaurants would really be perfectly suited to this area


I know about the film society, but an arthouse cinema still would be good to have for both new and vintage movies....A large bookstore which also has a good selection of movies on DVD and classical music CD's, like the Borders we used to have. I stubbornly supported that store and avoided online ordering until it was gone. Daedalus is fine but focuses on older releases.


An opera house?


A place where addicts could go for detox. Currently the closest place is Pathways in Annapolis.


I really miss the bookstore. BAM does not have the selection that Borders had.


Dairy Queen


Elizabeth Arden spa


Comedy club


A decent dance club 


A dry bar/nightclub/performance venue type of place. This a growing area - not just in Europe but many have sprouted up in other American cities. There is a growing population of folks in recovery and people who simply don't like to drink alcohol.


YES


Small businesses - like the ones on Historic Ellicott City's Main Street. The businesses in Columbia mall are chain stores (except maybe one or two). I would love for Columbia to support small business. 


A real Deli, New York style!


A real homemade ice cream creamery! We're moving to Columbia from NH in a couple weeks, and I almost had to call the deal off when I saw there was no real ice cream! 


 ***** 

It’s interesting to see which places have actually come into being since then. It looks like there’s a longing out there for an authentic New York-style deli. I wonder if plans for one of those are in the works? 

Is there anything on this list that speaks to you? Are you excited about Busboys and Poets? 

I wonder where we’ll be in for more years.

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