George’s Place will become Ben’s Chili Bowl on H Street. Image via Google Maps.

Over a year after it was officially announced that Ben’s Chili Bowl would open an outpost on the H Street Corridor, permits have been secured to begin renovating the building that will house the half-smokes.

Nizam and Kamal Ali, sons of the late Ben Ali, purchased the building at 1001 H Street NE, which used to house a men’s wear shop that boasted regular, large and “XX” large sizes, in October 2011. As the Washington Biz Journal now reports, permits were issued Friday to renovate the two-story building. When completed, it will feature 191 seats for a total occupancy of 272 people.

Nazim Ali told DCist via email that, since it’s a “big build out,” the eatery should be completed in about eight months. That’s March 2014. Mark your calenders.