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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 at 5121 North [[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.
Varona founded [[Varona Enterprises]] in [[1972]] and opened the first minority-owned airport concession at the [[Wikipedia:Stapleton International Airport|Stapleton International Airport]] in Denver, plus other airport operations in Dallas-Ft. Worth, St. Louis and Orlando.<ref>[http://www.aviationtoday.com/pressreleases/18364.html AviationToday.com]</ref> He moved to Pensacola in [[1990]]<ref name="restaurant"/> 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]]<ref>"Pensacola airport pushes to be better." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 11, 2000.</ref>) and two gift shops.
In [[2006]] Varona announced plans to open a separate restaurant outside the airport. After contemplating two [[Downtown Pensacola|downtown]] locations — the site of the [[Lee House]], demolished after [[Hurricane Ivan]],<ref>"Lee House site plan reworked." ''Pensacola News Journal'', July 18, 2006.</ref> and the [[McCollough House]], where his wife's [[Artel Gallery]] is located<ref>"Plan for Cuban eatery scrapped." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 24, 2006.</ref> — 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 The restaurant opened on [[April 8]], [[2008]].<ref name="restaurant">"Restaurateur to open new Cuban-style eatery." ''Pensacola News Journal'', October 22, 2007.</ref>
He is a regular patron of the arts community and served as president of the [[Pensacola Symphony Orchestra]] from [[2005]]-[[2006]].
