If you've ever been to Dover, Delaware, you probably know there isn't a whole lot to do there. The city emanates a peaceful aura that lulls its residents into a comfort for which I have yet to find a parallel. For me, no place embodies this quiet comfort more than Governor's Cafe.
Governor's is a local coffee shop and bar located in downtown Dover. It was built out of the former Governor's Mansion which is where it gets its name. While I was stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Governor's was my favorite place to set time aside to sit in the open air and write. It's where I came up with the idea for my first website, for my first podcast, for many of the poems I wrote as a very depressed young man.
Governor's doesn't try to imitate many corporate coffee conglomerates — yes, I'm referring to your chain, Howard Shultz. It isn't a carefully researched, meticulously planned "third space." It merely is a pleasant place where people come to enjoy a cup of coffee — or, if you're like me, a few Bloody Mary's.
While I do know that we are living in 2019 and smoking has generally gone the way of the Dodo, or the deceased victims of lung cancer — RIP, Mom — it is also a place where I can enjoy a comfortable seat with an ashtray and reflect on how deeply I'm damaging my physiology.
This little shop will always hold a special place in my heart. It's usually the first place I visit and the last place I patronize when visiting the First State. If you ever have the pleasure of coming to this sleepy little town tucked into the East Coast, I strongly recommend you stop by.
Much love for all the memories, as well as the innumerable cocktails,
Dylan
