Alex Beall
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) — Ben’s Chili Bowl is bringing its famous chili and halfsmokes to H Street.
The Wednesday morning ribbon cutting marks the restaurant’s most recent expansion beyond it’s spot on U Street.
While the restaurant had a soft opening Monday night, it officially opened Wednesday with a Chuck Brown Band performance and speeches from Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Mayor Muriel Bowser.
But notably missing was Bill Cosby, an icon of the original location and subject of a mural on the side of the building. He cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the Arlington outlet.
The new H Street location, however, will not have any murals, according to Vida Ali, a member of the family that owns the restaurant.
Ali said the family never expected the company to grow so much, but is excited to join the H Street community.
“I think H Street was the next logical step because … there’s a new community developing and it was natural to be a part of that,” she said.
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