It feels weird to type these words, but: Ben’s Chili Bowl is closed. Temporarily, of course — the beloved U Street institution which has survived riots and Metro construction is closing its doors for some long-overdue plumbing work that will require ground to be torn up. Owner Nizam Ali expects the chili half-smokes to be flinging again in the landmark “by the end of the week.”

The pipes at Ben’s are “53 years old at least,” said Ali this morning, admitting that they hadn’t been worked on since the eatery opened in 1958. “It’s needed stuff, so we just need to bite the bullet.”

Ben’s Next Door is still open to the public, and Ali said he didn’t expect the closure to affect Ben’s plans to host a chili-eating contest between world champion-caliber professional eaters next weekend.