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The classic MiMo Vagabond Motel is has just been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Miami Herald reports the announcement was made Monday by the National Parks Service. Carl Shiver, Historic Preservationist at the Florida Division of Historical Resources, confirmed that the Vagabond was added to the register on December 29, 2014.
See also: At Revamped Vagabond, Chef Alex Chang Makes His Mark
Although the motel and adjoining restaurant have just been recognized for their historical importance and fine representation of period MiMo architecture, it was only recently that the Vagabond reopened after an extensive restoration by developer Avra Jain.
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Vagabond Restaurant’s Alvaro Perez Miranda says the National Register of Historic Places designation is “another component to bring visitors to Biscayne Boulevard.”
The partner in the restaurant, that opened just a month ago says that, although the eatery has found a niche with local foodies, he thinks that being in a structure that’s recognized for its cultural value and artistic design will help not only his restaurant, but the entire Biscayne corridor. “I think the word will now spread internationally and people will come from all over. Not only are we a destination for food, we are a national landmark. We’re thrilled and honored to be a part of that.”
Though nearly 200 Miami-Dade structures and parks have been listed on the registry by the National Parks Service, very few restaurants made the list. Notable additions to the NPS’s registry include the S&S Diner, the Biltmore Hotel, the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, the Seminole Cafe & Hotel in Homestead, and Lincoln Road Mall, where tourists and locals can partake of eateries like Meat Market, Seredipity 3, and Doraku Sushi.
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