WASHINGTON – A local business is honoring Maya Angelou with her own words.

Owner of the local restaurant bookstore chain Busboys and Poets, Andy Shallal, always wanted to host Maya Angelou as a guest in his stores for a poetry reading.

When he finally got it on her calendar, she had to cancel her visit to Washington due to illness.

“I was very disappointed. It was one of those bucket list things to have Maya Angelou here,” he says.

Angelou made an impact on the literary world as a whole, introducing culturally driven poetry and prose to the mainstream, Shallal says.

“The kind of influence she had on so many, at so many different levels — just a remarkable woman,” he says.

This upcoming week, Busboys and Poets will feature the words of the poet and author during open mic nights at all of its locations. Open mic hosts will read from their choice of Angelou’s work to honor her memory.

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