HISTORY
Ben's Chili Bowl Through the Years
-
March 01
Ben’s Chili Bowl featured on NetflixBen’s Chili Bowl was featured on Netflix's season 7 of “Somebody Feed Phil”, Episode 2. Don’t miss it!
-
December 17
Virginia Ali's 90th Birthday!Virginia Ali of Ben's Chili Bowl celebrates 90 years! It’s not every day we get to celebrate someone turning 90 years old. Virginia Ali says, "When you treat people the way you want to be treated, you can live a very long time!"
-
December 08
Book Release: Virginia Ali, "The Matriarch of DC""Breaking Barriers with Chili: Virginia Ali: The Matriarch of DC" was released. This book chronicles the life of Virginia Ali and her significant influence on the iconic Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington, D.C.
-
July 14
Ben's Launches Retail at all Giant Foods Grocery StoresYou can now purchase Ben's Original Half Smokes, Spicy Half Smokes, Chili Sauce, Chili Con Carne and Turkey Chili at all 167 Giant Foods grocery stores in the Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware areas.
-
December 17
89th BirthdayVirginia Ali celebrates her 89th birthday with a fundraising event for the Ben's Chili Bowl Foundation.
-
August 22
64 YearsBen's celebrates 64 years in business with community, family and friends including a red velvet cake and cupcake surprise from Cakeman Raven of New York.
-
June 13
The Real DC: Go-Go and Ben'sBen's Chili Bowl and entertainer DJ Mello T launch the music video for "The Real DC: Go-Go and Ben's." The song and video were inspired by the #DontMuteDC movement to celebrate instead of silence our local music called Go-Go music.
-
June 21
New MuralAfter more than 5 years, Ben's unveils a new mural in Ben Ali Way with local and national heroes as voted on by over 30,000 people. Dave Chappelle, Dick Gregory and Jim Vance were on hand with hundreds of other people for the unveiling.
-
May 03
Google CommercialDuring the heart of the pandemic, Google selects Ben's for its nationally aired small business commercial. See the commercial here.
-
October 01
FedEx Field Location Opens
-
April 01
Foundation EstablishedBen's Chili Bowl Foundation Established
-
October 07
Ben Ali Passes AwayBen Ali will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.
-
July 10
Barack Obama Visits the Bowl
-
August 22
40th AnniversaryBen's Celebrates its 40th Anniversary. This milestone is promoted by a feature story on CNN.
-
August 01
Metro’s Green Line ConstructionIn front of The Bowl in 1987, after years of delays, construction on the U Street-Cardozo (as it was then known) WMATA Metrorail station began. This photo – taken in 1989 – shows the front of Ben’s as part of the station’s infrastructure is being prepared to be lowered into the ground. Throughout much of the construction Ben’s was kept open by just two employees: Virginia Ali and an associate.
-
August 04
Open During the DC Riots*April 4-8: Stokely Carmichael obtained special permission to keep Ben’s open after curfew to provide food and shelter for those working to restore order after the riots of 1968.
-
May 30
Poor People's CampaignBen’s Chili Bowl donates food to participants in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s Poor People’s Campaign.
HalfSmokes.com
We ship our famous food and merch nationwide! Enjoy a taste of history and family tradition from Ben's Chili Bowl, delivered to your door through HalfSmokes.com.
