Ali was born on December 17, 1933, and is of African American and Native American descent.[1] She was raised in rural Virginia and was educated in a segregated school system.[2] She moved with her family to Washington, D.C., in the 1950s.[2]
CareerEdit
After moving to Washington, Ali worked as a teller at Industrial Bank, a historic Black owned business.[3] It was there that she met husband Ben Ali when he visited the bank to deposit money from a local restaurant where he worked.[3]
Ali and Ben opened Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street in Washington, D.C., on August 22, 1958.[4][5] Many famous entertainers frequented the family-run restaurant, in the heart of the Shaw neighborhood. The restaurant became a favorite late-night gathering place for the likes of Duke Ellington, Dinah Washington and Redd Foxx.[6] Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson, and Stokely Carmichael often ate together at the Chili Bowl.[7]
Ali has served on the boards of several organizations, including For Love of Children.[8]
Awards and honorsEdit
Ali and her husband were inducted into the DC Hall of Fame in 2002.[8] She and Ben received the Key to the City from mayor Adrian Fenty in honor of the restaurant’s 50th anniversary in 2008.[8]
Personal lifeEdit
Virginia and Ben Ali were married on October 10, 1958; together they had three sons.[6] Each of their children were given the middle name Ben in case they took over the restaurant.[6] All three eventually became involved in running the restaurant after Ben's death.[9]
ReferencesEdit
^Sidman, Jessica (December 17, 2020). "Ben's Chili Bowl Owner Virginia Ali Turns 87 Today. Here's What She's Most Grateful For". Washingtonian. from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
^ abcFoster, Margaret (1 April 2019). "She built more than a restaurant". Beacon. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
^ abAdkins, Lenore T. (23 August 2018). "Virginia Ali, Owner of Ben's Chili Bowl, Embraces 60 Years of Change". AFRO American Newspapers. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
^"My Story: Virginia Ali". Washington Business Journal. July 31, 2020. from the original on 2021-08-13. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
^"Turning Back the Clock with Virginia Ali of Ben's Chili Bowl | Washington DC". washington.org. from the original on 2021-08-11. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
^ abcSchudel, Matt (9 October 2009). "Ben Ali, 82, Whose Chili Bowl Became a D.C. Landmark, Dies". The Washington Post. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
^"My story : Virginia Ali". Bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
^ abc"Ben's Chili Bowl Virginia Ali | Q&A | Where are the Black Chefs? | PBS". Where are the Black Chefs? | PBS. from the original on 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
^Azam, Nuzaira (5 April 2021). "From MLK and civil rights movement to BLM and storming of Capitol, Virginia Ali has seen it all". The American Bazaar. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
External linksEdit
Ben's Chili Bowl official website
October 21, 2023
virginia, née, rollins, born, december, 1933, american, business, owner, known, founding, chili, bowl, washington, chili, bowl, 2019, bornvirginia, rollins, 1933, december, 1933, nationalityamericanknown, forben, chili, bowlspouseben, contents, early, life, ca. Virginia Ali nee Rollins born December 17 1933 is an American business owner known for co founding Ben s Chili Bowl in Washington D C Virginia AliAli at Ben s Chili Bowl 2019 BornVirginia Rollins 1933 12 17 December 17 1933 age 89 NationalityAmericanKnown forBen s Chili BowlSpouseBen Ali Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Awards and honors 4 Personal life 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditAli was born on December 17 1933 and is of African American and Native American descent 1 She was raised in rural Virginia and was educated in a segregated school system 2 She moved with her family to Washington D C in the 1950s 2 Career EditAfter moving to Washington Ali worked as a teller at Industrial Bank a historic Black owned business 3 It was there that she met husband Ben Ali when he visited the bank to deposit money from a local restaurant where he worked 3 Ali and Ben opened Ben s Chili Bowl on U Street in Washington D C on August 22 1958 4 5 Many famous entertainers frequented the family run restaurant in the heart of the Shaw neighborhood The restaurant became a favorite late night gathering place for the likes of Duke Ellington Dinah Washington and Redd Foxx 6 Martin Luther King Jr Jesse Jackson and Stokely Carmichael often ate together at the Chili Bowl 7 During the 1968 Washington D C riots after the death of King Ali kept the Chili Bowl open at the request of Stokely Carmichael 2 Ali has served on the boards of several organizations including For Love of Children 8 Awards and honors EditAli and her husband were inducted into the DC Hall of Fame in 2002 8 She and Ben received the Key to the City from mayor Adrian Fenty in honor of the restaurant s 50th anniversary in 2008 8 Personal life EditVirginia and Ben Ali were married on October 10 1958 together they had three sons 6 Each of their children were given the middle name Ben in case they took over the restaurant 6 All three eventually became involved in running the restaurant after Ben s death 9 References Edit Sidman Jessica December 17 2020 Ben s Chili Bowl Owner Virginia Ali Turns 87 Today Here s What She s Most Grateful For Washingtonian Archived from the original on July 16 2021 Retrieved August 12 2021 a b c Foster Margaret 1 April 2019 She built more than a restaurant Beacon Retrieved 24 February 2022 a b Adkins Lenore T 23 August 2018 Virginia Ali Owner of Ben s Chili Bowl Embraces 60 Years of Change AFRO American Newspapers Retrieved 24 February 2022 My Story Virginia Ali Washington Business Journal July 31 2020 Archived from the original on 2021 08 13 Retrieved 2021 08 13 Turning Back the Clock with Virginia Ali of Ben s Chili Bowl Washington DC washington org Archived from the original on 2021 08 11 Retrieved 2021 08 12 a b c Schudel Matt 9 October 2009 Ben Ali 82 Whose Chili Bowl Became a D C Landmark Dies The Washington Post Retrieved 24 February 2022 My story Virginia Ali Bizjournals com Retrieved 2022 03 03 a b c Ben s Chili Bowl Virginia Ali Q amp A Where are the Black Chefs PBS Where are the Black Chefs PBS Archived from the original on 2021 06 23 Retrieved 2021 08 12 Azam Nuzaira 5 April 2021 From MLK and civil rights movement to BLM and storming of Capitol Virginia Ali has seen it all The American Bazaar Retrieved 24 February 2022 External links EditBen s Chili Bowl official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Virginia Ali amp oldid 1175059014, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
