Difference between revisions of "Robert de Varona"
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| − | '''Robert de Varona''', called "Mr. D" by many, is a Cuban-born entrepreneur who owns airport concession company [[Varona Enterprises]] and a standalone restaurant, [[Varona's Havana Café]], under construction on [[12th Avenue]]. He is married to [[Eloise Lautier de Varona]], president of [[Artel Gallery]]. | + | {{Infobox Biography |
| + | | subject_name =Robert de Varona | ||
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| + | | date_of_birth = | ||
| + | | place_of_birth =Cuba | ||
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| + | | occupation =Restaurateur, entrepreneur | ||
| + | | religion = | ||
| + | | spouse = | ||
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| + | }}'''Robert de Varona''', called "Mr. D" by many, is a Cuban-born entrepreneur who owns airport concession company [[Varona Enterprises]] and a standalone restaurant, [[Varona's Havana Café]], under construction on [[12th Avenue]]. He is married to [[Eloise Lautier de Varona]], president of [[Artel Gallery]]. | ||
Born in [[Wikipedia:Camagüey|Camagüey, Cuba]],<ref>[http://www.varona.com/restaurants.html Varona Restaurants]</ref> Varona participated in the failed [[Wikipedia:Bay of Pigs invasion|Bay of Pigs invasion]] against [[Wikipedia:FIdel Castro|FIdel Castro]]'s regime as a teenager, for which he was imprisoned for eighteen months.<ref>"Still Castro's Cuba." ''Pensacola News Journal'', February 20, 2008.</ref> He was released to America in [[1962]] with only $100 and a set of clothes. | Born in [[Wikipedia:Camagüey|Camagüey, Cuba]],<ref>[http://www.varona.com/restaurants.html Varona Restaurants]</ref> Varona participated in the failed [[Wikipedia:Bay of Pigs invasion|Bay of Pigs invasion]] against [[Wikipedia:FIdel Castro|FIdel Castro]]'s regime as a teenager, for which he was imprisoned for eighteen months.<ref>"Still Castro's Cuba." ''Pensacola News Journal'', February 20, 2008.</ref> He was released to America in [[1962]] with only $100 and a set of clothes. | ||
Revision as of 19:51, 14 March 2008
| Robert de Varona | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Restaurateur, entrepreneur |
Robert de Varona, called "Mr. D" by many, is a Cuban-born entrepreneur who owns airport concession company Varona Enterprises and a standalone restaurant, Varona's Havana Café, under construction on 12th Avenue. He is married to Eloise Lautier de Varona, president of Artel Gallery.
Born in Camagüey, Cuba,[1] Varona participated in the failed Bay of Pigs invasion against FIdel Castro's regime as a teenager, for which he was imprisoned for eighteen months.[2] He was released to America in 1962 with only $100 and a set of clothes.
Varona founded Varona Enterprises in 1972 and opened the first minority-owned airport concession at the Stapleton International Airport in Denver, plus other airport operations in Dallas-Ft. Worth, St. Louis and Orlando.[3] He moved to Pensacola in 1990[4] and now operates several concessions in the Pensacola Regional Airport, including Varona's café (originally called "Hangar Bay" before a $300,000 renovation in 2000[5]) and two gift shops.
In 2006 Varona announced plans to open a separate restaurant outside the airport. After contemplating two downtown locations — the site of the Lee House, demolished after Hurricane Ivan,[6] and the McCollough House, where his wife's Artel Gallery is located[7] — Varona chose to renovate the former State Farm Claims Insurance building at 5121 North 12th Avenue, near the airport. It is scheduled for completion in March 2008.[4]
He is a regular patron of the arts community and served as president of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra from 2005-2006.
References
- ↑ Varona Restaurants
- ↑ "Still Castro's Cuba." Pensacola News Journal, February 20, 2008.
- ↑ AviationToday.com
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Restaurateur to open new Cuban-style eatery." Pensacola News Journal, October 22, 2007.
- ↑ "Pensacola airport pushes to be better." Pensacola News Journal, August 11, 2000.
- ↑ "Lee House site plan reworked." Pensacola News Journal, July 18, 2006.
- ↑ "Plan for Cuban eatery scrapped." Pensacola News Journal, August 24, 2006.
