Ben Ali Dies at 82
Sad news for the District of Columbia: Ben Ali, the patriarch of U Street institution Ben's Chili Bowl, passed away last night at around 9:00 pm. A family member said that Ali "passed peacefully," noting that he'd had "health issues off and on." Ali had just recently returned for a cruise with his wife, Virginia---the two were approaching their 51st wedding anniversary.
"He lived a full life and put a lot into the business," said a family member. Asked whether Ben's will close at any point in observance of the passing of its founder, the family member said a decision on that matter hadn't yet been made.
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Linked From: October 8th, 2009Ben Ali Dies at 82 » We Love DC
11:51 am[...] this is just so sad. Ben Ali, feeder of the hungry DC masses, has died at age 82. I don’t have a lot to add to that, so I’ll just provide some Ali-related reading [...]
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Linked From: October 8th, 2009Founder of Ben’s Chili Bowl Passes « DC Mumbo Sauce - It’s The Flavor Of The DMV
12:28 pm[...] From The Washington City Paper: [...]
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Linked From: October 8th, 2009Ben Ali Created a Political Mecca - City Desk - Washington City Paper
12:35 pm[...] among local politickers as denizens of Ben’s Chili Bowl, and its proprietor, Ben Ali, who died today at 82. He remembers his longtime friend with this line: “He came here ansd he wanted to do three [...]
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Linked From: October 8th, 2009Mackenzie (maco) 's status on Thursday, 08-Oct-09 17:51:40 UTC - Identi.ca
1:52 pm[...] http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/10/08/ben-ali-dies-at-82/ a few seconds ago from choqoK [...]
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Linked From: October 8th, 2009RIP: Ben Ali, Founder of Ben’s Chili Bowl « Mollytics!
2:14 pm[...] Sad news today about one of D.C.’s greatest: Sad news for the District of Columbia: Ben Ali, the patriarch of U Street institution Ben’s Chili Bowl, passed away last night at around 9:00 pm. A family member said that Ali “passed peacefully,” noting that he’d had “health issues off and on.” Ali had just recently returned for a cruise with his wife, Virginia—the two were approaching their 51st wedding anniversary. [...]
1:41 pm
The passing of Ben is like loosing a elder family member to this city. To all young and old this is the gentleman who fed us, nurtured us when we were hurt and made it ok to be a Washingtonian. This city has lost much more than a great businessman and son, we have lost part of our being and our fiber. As a fourth generation Washingtonian Ben Ali to me embodied what it meant to be from this great place.
My prayers to him and his family.
3:10 pm
As a born and bred Washingtonian living in Brooklyn,NY for the last 20 years.I insist on anyone going to DC to go to Ben's. I myself everytime I come back to DC to visit go to Ben's even. before I go to my family's house. This is a sad day. HE WILL be Missed.
12:07 am
I am very sadden by this news. Being a native Washingtonian, and a frequent customer of the world famous establishment, everyone must visit this Historical Landmark of DC.
12:02 am
As a native of Calif., now living in the 'burbs of DC I go to Ben's whenever I get a chance. The history alone is worth the Metro ride.