Ben's to the Suburbs?

Since announcing last spring that they were looking for franchise opportunities, Ben's Chili Bowl hasn't found any actual locations.

So it made sense when I heard that the owners, Kamal and Nizam Ali, had maybe-sorta pinned down a spot on H Street NE—who wouldn't want to be there? Of course, Kamal says they haven't signed any leases yet, and they're just as interested in a few other locations, not all of them in the District. Along with Capitol Hill and Dupont Circle, the Alis are eyeing Prince George's County and Springfield and Clarendon in Virginia.

All of which, I suppose, could really use some late-night half-smokes.

Ben’s to the Suburbs? was originally published by Washington City Paper on Jul 12, 2011