Ben Ali, the founder of landmark D.C. restaurant Ben’s Chili Bowl, passed away from congestive heart failure on Wednesday night.

Ali, who was 82 years old, opened Ben’s Chili Bowl in 1958 and the restaurant has served as a gathering place for U Street’s vibrant black community ever since, with the walls covered with photographs of celebrities and politicians enjoying the diner’s signature chili, hot dogs and half-smokes.

The Hatchet has named Ben’s Chili Bowl as a “must see” and their chili-topped half-smokes as a “must try” for students for years, most recently in August. Reporters and photographers also captured the reactions of Ben’s Chili Bowl patrons when Barack Obama won the presidential election and the eatery’s 50th anniversary celebration.

The Washington Post also has an interesting article on Ali and the history of Ben’s Chili Bowl here.