An Unexpected Cupcake

There are very few things in this world that are better than a moist, fluffy cupcake with the perfect Frosting-to-Cake Ratio, and that’s just what I got at Gamehaven Cafe and Bakery in East York, PA. I stopped in on a whim, as it was only a couple of miles away from where I was staying for the night, and I was hoping to run into a group playing games.

While I didn’t manage to play anything, I found yet another example of a community brought together by board games. I got a chance to talk with the owner, Eric Gallant, about some local designers he’s trying to provide a space for, the perils of selling Magic cards 20 years too early, and the difficulties of trying to open a game café right at the start of Covid.

But what struck me most about my conversation with Eric were two things.

First, I love how easy it has been so far to strike up conversations with people along this trip. Talking with Eric about games and game shops was like picking up a conversation from a few years ago with an old friend. I’d love to compliment Eric by saying that he’s uniquely warm and welcoming, but that’s been the standard from people along the journey so far.

Second, what I especially liked about this board game café is that it provided a welcoming space for adults with special needs to gather and play. Eric says a group comes in just about every weekday, and that their current favorite game seems to be Qwirkle! It warmed my heart to see a board game store be able to make even a small difference in the lives of others.

As thanks for his hospitality, I donated a copy of Tim Blank’s Oh My Gods to Gamehaven (which is how I ended up with one of the best cupcakes I’ve ever had)!

Who wouldn’t be happy to receive a copy of Oh My Gods?

There’s a lot of history in York (the Articles of Confederation were drafted here), but if you happen to visit and want to take a break from all that, I suggest stopping in at Gamehaven. I’d have posted a picture of my cupcake, but I ate it too fast.