Following months of speculation, Busboys and Poets owner  Andy Shallal will announce on Wednesday that he's opening a branch of the growing restaurant and bookstore chain in Anacostia.  

Busboys, which currently has two D.C. locations, on 14th Street NW and at 5th and K streets NW, is in the midst of a major expansion, with new branches  planned in Takoma and Brookland. Shallal has long targeted Anacostia, and he  reportedly signed a letter of intent this spring for the space at 2004-2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE formerly occupied by a furniture store.  

On Wednesday, Shallal will formally announce the signing of a lease for the space at a press conference. He made the disclosure Thursday night at a dinner for housing professionals, nonprofit leaders, and reporters in Atlantic Media Company owner  David Bradley's office in the Watergate.