Cafe Vermilionville is a Lafayette gem. The local restaurant offers a fine dining experience, serving aesthetically pleasing and delicious cuisine of Cajun and Creole influences in a beautifully decorated atmosphere.
Aside from being a popular eatery, the two-story landmark at 1304 Pinhook Road is quite a historical structure. When it was built, and by whom, no one can say; that information has been lost somewhere in the past. But it’s what we do know about this building that makes it such an integral part of Lafayette’s history.
We do know that since it was built, it has served many purposes and has been owned by many big names in Lafayette. It was the city’s first inn. The earliest known records indicate that the inn was bought by Baptiste Broussard in 1812. His son, Nicholas, sold the inn in 1853 for $90 to a Swiss merchant, whose son became prominent in Lafayette business and politics; in his lifetime, August Monnier served as a postmaster, clerk of court, city council member, and mayor of Lafayette.
During the Civil War, the inn served as a headquarters for federal soldiers. Spent bullets and an old cannon ball have been found on the grounds, evidence of war-related incidents occurring in the area.
The present-day Oil Center and shopping village were developed under the instruction of Maurice Heymann, who bought the building and surrounding land from a retired doctor by the name of M. E. Girard, who had been living in the old inn as he ran a plantation. Heymann planned to demolish the building but was persuaded to instead sell it.
Flash forward to today, and the old inn/headquarters/home is now a popular Lafayette restaurant under the name Cafe Vermilionville. Since its ambiguous conception, the building has undergone several renovations. Despite adding onto the original structure, it is still obvious that it was built heavily with Anglo-American and French influences. The building still contains original cypress doors, floors, and trimmings.
To accommodate a large, hungry crowd, a commercial kitchen, two bars, and a glass patio room have been added as well. The beauty of the estate makes it a popular venue for special occasions such as receptions, luncheons, and parties.
As Lafayette has grown, Cafe Vermilionville has grown with it There’s quite a bit of history within the walls of that ancient structure, some of which is still unknown to us. If you’d like your next dinner served with a slice of Lafayette history, Cafe Vermilionville is second to none.
Originaly posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News
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