Half-Smoke lovers, rejoice! The H Street NE location of Ben’s Chili Bowl is opening tomorrow, Wednesday, July 8. According to WJLA, “The restaurant had a soft opening Monday evening in preparation for a big opening at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, for a ribbon cutting ceremony.” The ribbon cutting ceremony will include a performance by the legendary Chuck Brown Band and appearances by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Mayor Muriel Bowser.
The official press release:
JOIN THE ALI FAMILY AND SPECIAL GUESTS TO CELEBRATE THE RIBBON CUTTING OF BEN’S CHILI BOWL ON H STREET
DATE: Wednesday, July 8th
TIME: 11:00AM Press Conference & Ribbon Cutting
PLACE: Ben’s Chili Bowl, 1001 H Street, NE Washington, DC 20002On Wednesday, July 8th, please join the Ali family as Ben’s Chili Bowl opens the doors of its second stand-alone location in Washington, DC in over 55 years! We are honored to have the legendary Chuck Brown Band perform, and our special guests include Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mayor Muriel Bowser, and others. All of us at Ben’s are humbled and thankful for the love and support we receive from our guests and the city as we continue to build upon the rich history of community service that Ben’s has been known for throughout the years. We are proud to say that we have hired over 50 people from the community as we build our Ben’s H Street team.
Visitors to Washington, DC have usually heard about Ben’s Chili Bowl long before their arrival. Many remember the news of President Obama stopping by to enjoy a Chili Half-Smoke. Ben’s has been seen on Man vs. Food, CNN, Oprah, Anthony Bourdain, Good Morning America, Larry the Cable Guy, Pauly Shore, The Daily Show, and countless other national and international shows.
Ben’s Chili Bowl has also been seen in films like Russell Crowe’s State of Play, Denzel Washington’s The Pelican Brief, and Don Cheadle’s Talk to Me. In the old days, guests included Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway, Nat King Cole, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and many other luminaries. More recently, French President Sarkozy, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, members of the US Congress, and many other noteworthy political and sports figures have stopped by to sample the world famous Ben’s cuisine. 21st century pop culture icons including Jimmy Fallon, George Lopez, Chris Rock, Usher, Bono, Tyrese, Nick Cannon, Chris Tucker, Sara Jessica Parker, Serena Williams and others have also been seen on recent visits to Ben’s.
In addition to being known as the place in DC where everyday people brush shoulders with celebrities, Ben’s Chili Bowl has also been honored to receive numerous awards and accolades, including the prestigious “America’s Classics” award from the James Beard Foundation. In 2008, Ben and Virginia Ali were given the Key to the City by DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, and in 2009 Ben’s was honored by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. In 2010, the George Washington University enshrined Ben’s Chili Bowl’s historic papers, documents and photos into its main Gelman Library, and all documents have been digitized for students and scholars throughout the world to examine. And in 2013, Ben’s won the Steve Harvey Golden Spatula Award for Best Chili in America.
Yet, in spite of all the worldwide recognition and fame, local residents of DC, Maryland and Virginia know the real truth about Ben’s Chili Bowl, and that truth is simple. They know that Ben’s is first and foremost about FAMILY and COMMUNITY. For over 55 years, Ben’s has graciously served the people, and every guest has always been embraced as family. When segregation was still alive, Ben’s offered a peaceful gathering place and safe haven for ALL people, regardless of any differences in background or perspective. Society has grown and changed, but Ben’s remains the same and continues to celebrate people from all walks of life as they come together to eat, laugh, and discuss life as they see it.
For additional information on Opening Day of Ben’s Chili Bowl H Street, NE, please feel free to contact Vida Ali at (310) 859-4730 or via email at VIDAMEDIAGROUP@SBCGLOBAL.NET