When Elias and Meryem envisioned Buna Talk Café, they weren’t simply thinking about opening a coffee shop.
They were thinking about creating a place where people could gather.
Inspired by the rich tradition of Ethiopian hospitality, where coffee serves as a symbol of connection and conversation, the couple dreamed of creating a welcoming space where neighbors, families, entrepreneurs, healthcare workers, and visitors could slow down, enjoy fresh food, and feel part of the community.
That vision became Buna Talk Café.
Located in the Retail Village at St. Elizabeths East in Congress Heights, the café quickly filled a need within the neighborhood by offering fresh breakfast, lunch, espresso beverages, fresh juices, pastries, and Hershey’s Ice Cream in an area where residents previously had limited nearby options.
For Elias and Meryem, the café has always represented something greater than food and coffee.
“It’s about creating a place where people feel welcome,” they often share through the way they serve every guest who walks through their doors.
Rooted in Ethiopian Tradition
The name Buna means “coffee” in Amharic, Ethiopia’s official language. In Ethiopian culture, coffee is more than a beverage—it’s a tradition centered around hospitality, storytelling, and bringing people together.
Those values continue to guide the business today.
Meryem’s love of cooking began while helping her family in the kitchen growing up in Ethiopia. Over the years, that passion expanded into preparing meals, pastries, fresh juices, and baked goods for family, friends, and the local community. Combined with Elias’s shared vision for entrepreneurship and service, the two built a business rooted in quality, warmth, and genuine hospitality.
Growing with Purpose
Today, that vision is reaching even more people.
With the opening of a second location at 701 9th Street NW, Buna Talk Café is expanding beyond Congress Heights while remaining committed to the same mission that inspired the business from the very beginning.
The new location allows the business to serve downtown residents, professionals, and visitors while creating additional employment opportunities and continuing to invest in Washington, D.C.’s local economy.
For Elias and Meryem, growth isn’t simply measured by opening another location.
It’s measured by the number of people who find a welcoming place to gather, connect, and build community.
A Partnership for Growth
As Buna Talk Café prepared for this exciting new chapter, FSC First was proud to partner with Elias and Meryem by providing financing to support the expansion of their business.
As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), FSC First believes that investing in entrepreneurs means investing in stronger neighborhoods, local jobs, and vibrant commercial corridors where small businesses can thrive.
Buna Talk Café reflects exactly that vision.
Looking Ahead
As the business continues to grow, Elias and Meryem remain focused on the same values that inspired them from day one: exceptional hospitality, fresh food, meaningful connections, and a commitment to serving the communities they call home.
With locations now serving both Congress Heights and Downtown Washington, D.C., Buna Talk Café continues to demonstrate how locally owned businesses can strengthen neighborhoods while creating spaces where culture, conversation, and community come together.
FSC First congratulates Elias and Meryem on this exciting milestone and looks forward to supporting their continued success for years to come.
Business Snapshot
Business: Buna Talk Café
Owners: Elias & Meryem
Industry: Café
Original Location: 1110 Oak Drive SE, Washington, DC 20032
New Location: 701 9th Street NW, Washington, DC
Known For:
- Fresh Breakfast & Lunch
- Ethiopian Coffee & Espresso
- Fresh Juices & Smoothies
- Pastries
- Hershey’s Ice Cream
Community Impact
- Minority Woman-Owned & Family-Owned Business
- Serving Congress Heights & Downtown Washington, D.C.
- Expanding Access to Fresh Food and Coffee
- Creating Community Gathering Spaces
- Celebrating Ethiopian Hospitality and Culture
- Supporting Local Economic Development
