Miracle Mile’s allure lies in its blend of architectural styles, vibrant streetscape, and diverse offerings:

• Mediterranean-style Architecture: Some of the buildings along Miracle Mile showcase the Mediterranean-style, characterized by stucco facades and arched doorways. Wide sidewalks with a pattern of beautiful quartz pavers resemble the South Florida sky. 
• Outdoor Cafés and Boutiques: Sidewalk cafés and boutique shops create a lively atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy alfresco dining, people-watching and leisurely strolls.
• Historic Landmarks: Notable landmarks include the Miracle Theatre, built in 1948. It is now the home of critically-acclaimed Actors’ Playhouse. 
• Tree-Lined Streets: Towering palm trees line the median while large oaks line the sidewalk providing shade and a tropical ambiance.
• Events and Festivals: Miracle Mile hosts various events, from art walks, shopping crawls, musical performances to holiday celebrations, making it a hub of community activity.

The 1920s brought the planning and establishment of Coral Gables. City founder George Merrick established the business section of Coral Gables and planted seeds for its healthy development. In the 1940s, as the city began to develop, a few developers and business owners saw the unfulfilled potential of the four-block commercial strip of Coral Way between LeJeune and Douglas Road. They began investing in the area and eventually in the 1950s rebranding the area as a high-end shopping destination – “Miracle Mile”. 

Among the original investors of Miracle Mile were George K. Zain and his wife Rebyl Zain. George Zain came to be known as the “Father of Miracle Mile.” Zain leased the land behind the small businesses on Miracle Mile to the City so it could build off-street parging garages – a revolutionary idea for that time. In the 1960s, the City dedicated a plaque in his honor located at the western entrance of Miracle Mile. 

For more information on the history of Coral Gables, visit the Coral Gables Museum.