The iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl will reopen its original U Street location Friday after months of extensive renovations, according to NBC4 Washington. The beloved DC institution, famous for its halfsmokes and deep roots in the city’s Black community, has been closed while undergoing updates to its historic storefront. The reopening also serves as a celebration of Virginia Ali, the matriarch who has helped guide the restaurant’s legacy for decades alongside her late husband Ben Ali. Ben’s Chili Bowl has long served as more than just a restaurant�it’s been a cultural cornerstone of the U Street corridor, feeding everyone from neighborhood residents to celebrities while remaining a symbol of Black entrepreneurship and community resilience in the nation’s capital.
Source: NBC4 Washington, DC
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