THE ALI FAMILY - WASHINGTON, DC
BEN'S CHILI BOWL | www.benschilibowl.com | @benseverything
ABOUT THE ALI FAMILY
Ben’s Chili Bowl was started by Virginia and Ben Ali in 1958. Nizam, Kamal, and Sage Ali are the sons of Virginia and Ben and keep the business running today. “My mom worked as a teller at Industrial Bank in Washington, DC, a long-standing minority-owned bank, which in itself is historic in its unique way. There she met my father, and they started dating. My father had the vision to open Ben’s Chili Bowl, which was very progressive at the time. They opened on the famous U Street Corridor, which was known as Black Broadway. My dad introducing our homemade spicy chili sauce on sandwiches was very revolutionary at the time. My dad said that he brought spice to America in many ways, and that was very powerful,” says Sage Ali, son of Ben and Virginia Ali. With $5,000 in savings, they opened their doors on August 22nd and were married two months later.
“Even in New York City, you could not go into the Apollo Theater as an African American during this time,” says Kamal Ali, son of Ben and Virginia.
“When they opened up in 1958, Washington DC was still segregated. This really is the epitome of the American dream. Dad is from Trinidad, and mom is from a farm about two hours away from DC,” says Nizam Ali, son of Ben and Virginia.
Tell us about how being in Washington, DC impacted your legacy.
Kamal: “Washington DC is such a political town, so we don’t have the industry that many other towns across America have. There are no factories or industries with smokestacks or anything like that here – DC isn’t known for building or making anything. Because of this, Washington has very little of that ethnicity, so the Chili Bowl represents the small family businesses that are lacking in the area.”
Ali Brothers: “Being a part of our family is being a part of a larger community that served to break the segregation commonly found in Washington, DC.”
Growing up, who in your family influenced you, and what impact did they have on you?
Kamal and Nizam: “Mom is currently 88 years old and plays a very active role to this day, whether it’s behind the grill or greeting customers. She started when she was 24 years old and still works today. Mom and dad ran Ben’s Chili Bowl exclusively from 1958 to, let’s say, 1980, and after that time, we came in and ran the business afterward.”
What is one thing you’re incredibly proud of at this very moment?
Kamal and Sage: “Ben’s Chili Bowl has always served as a ‘safe haven’ to represent good values and welcome customers with open arms. Our mother served as the heart and soul of the brand while dad worked on the back end of the business, which today has been open for 60+ years! The chili recipe also remains top secret and brings an ethnic flair to the menu. The homemade chili continues to be made fresh every day. You put the dry ingredients in a brown bag, which only one of the three brothers do, and then it's executed from there.”
Are there any words of wisdom you’d like to give for other Black families who are carrying out generational legacies?
Ali Brothers: “When starting or maintaining a business, it’s recommended to purchase your real estate and secure your space. When you own your real estate, your longevity is not dependent on a set lease or whether your landlord wants to go up on your rent. You can control your destiny. The second part is the multigenerational aspect of keeping it young. The world is changing so fast these days, and if you think about social media and technology, the younger people need to stay involved. Understand your strengths and what you’re good at when creating new projects. Have a passion for what you do, be thoughtful about it and you will be successful.”
