Ben Ali, founder of Ben’s Chili Bowl, passed away two months ago. Lines stretched out the door of the Ali family’s business as the DC community and the media gathered to honor Ben’s legacy on October 7, 2009.

For many of us in DC, Ben’s Chili Bowl goes far beyond the half-smokes, shakes and chili served in the historical U Street corridor. Having survived gentrification and culture clashes, the Ali family’s business became a cultural institution since the 1950s.

The Alis opened their business in DC’s “Black Broadway” in 1958 and attracted many prominent figures in history, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Duke Ellington, Bill Cosby and Nat King Cole. They operated a business during the days of segregated Washington when most establishments were white-only. Decades later, the business would go on to operate as a late night hot spot by becoming a cross-way of blacks, whites, punk rockers in the ‘80s, gay couples, government workers, DC visitors, residents from Virginia and Maryland suburbs.

In 2009, Ben’s Chili Bowl became a destination for DC tourism after Mayor Fenty and President Obama had lunch in January. It’s hard to imagine that 41 years ago, this area ignited into fire and riots following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King in 1968. Many businesses became vacant after the riots but a little hope remained in U Street as Ben’s Chili Bowl operated to serve the homeless, firefighters and activists who worked to restore the damage. Having survived the riot of ‘68, Ben’s Chili Bowl was the only operating business in U Street.

Mary Battiata of the Washington Post wrote,

And what a world. Top hats and satin slip-dresses and silver screens and jazz. Look! There’s Cab Calloway. Look! It’s Pearl Bailey. Streetcars and speakeasies. Langston Hughes wrote poetry here. Duke Ellington grew up and played. It was the place to be in black Washington from 1920 until the ‘60s. Handsome buildings built with black capital, designed by black architects and made by black hands. Nobel Peace Prize winners rubbing shoulders with milliners rubbing shoulders with professors and dishwashers and shoeshine men and schoolteachers and government clerks.

The Ali family would go on to become a model for black-owned business in DC in the ‘60s.

Photo by FrenchTwistDC.

Although developers of residential living and retail businesses are on a quest to transform the old 14th Street, Ben’s original half-smokes and chili have always remained the same to serve the hungry for more than half a century. Ben’s Chili Bowl is recognized for being an important staple of DC’s culture and history, a place that is only found in DC and unique to us. It goes beyond the half-smokes to us in the nation’s capital. They have clearly survived the test of time and will continue to inspire us.

Cross-posted at ReadySetDC.

Allicia writes for ReadySetDC, a “blog + collection of creative projects aimed at creating awareness of everything amazing in DC, including urban development, culture + art.”