Ben's Chili Bowl - U Street rendezvous for musicians

Ben's Chili Bowl was founded in 1958 on U Street and became a frequent gathering place for performers, promoters, and community leaders during Washington's mid-20th-century music scenes. The restaurant famously remained open through the 1968 riots and has been patronized by numerous entertainers over the decades. It is often cited in histories of the U Street corridor's musical and cultural life.