With high black ceilings, intricate decorations, colorful, vibrant artwork, a diverse menu and detail after tiny detail, Busboys and Poets in Hyattsville is a bold example of a thriving, local triple bottom line business.

Thus, the restaurant and artist space focuses not only on making a profit, but also on sustainable business practices that benefit their customers, employees and the community at large.

“What makes [Busboys] really cool from my perspective is the ability to build a community,” said owner Andy Shallal.

Bringing people together from different backgrounds, interests and beliefs is great for building a community, for humanity and the overall spirit, Shallal, who owns the four Busboys locations, said.

He sees himself as a “social entrepreneur” and looks for opportunities to create a better world through his businesses.

According to Simone Jacobson, curator-in-residence and arts and events coordinator for the Hyattsville location, the “tribe” of people who help the trendy, earthy hangout run smoothly, shoot for diverse events and aim to be a place where art, race and culture collide.

Busboys’ events include poetry slams, concerts, films, speeches and community discussions. The event space—the Howard Zinn Room—can also be rented out for private parties or community events.

Busboys’ menu itself is diverse, including an array of pizzas, sandwiches, Mediterranean dishes, various entrées and drinks. There also are vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options on the menu and all- natural, free-range, grass fed beef from Grayson Farm, VA.

Finding a suitable option for sustainable meat was difficult, but Live Green, a non-profit company that consults socially responsible businesses, worked with them to find a solid product, Shallal said.

“Busboys is a great example of a green business not only because they have socially responsible practices, but because they are profiting and growing,” said Steve Ma of Live Green.

The restaurant has been successful largely in part due to the quality of their products and their competitive prices, he said.

“This is why I’m hopeful that this is the wave of the future because sustainable business keeps growing and expanding,” Ma said.

Shallal and Ma believe that as consumer knowledge of green businesses and green products expands, sustainable business will dominate the market.

“This is definitely the future,” Shallal said.