Friendly ‘crab cake wager’ leads Governors to Dewey Beach, discussion on summer tourism

DEWEY BEACH, Del. – “Two Governors from Maryland and Delaware here in town, in Dewey. It’s great for this area,” Owner of Woody’s Dewey Beach Jimmy O’Conor said.

Sunday proved the power of a crab cake, as Delaware Governor John Carney and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan shared the delicacy at Woody’s in Dewey Beach.

The governor’s settled a friendly wager following the first-round NCAA playoff victory of the University of Maryland women’s Terrapins. “The bet was a crab cake, our best. We have great crab cakes across the state and particularly here at Woody’s,” Governor Carney said.

“When I saw the wager and that the loser was going to get a Woody’s crab cake I was honored obviously,” O’Conor said.

The day wasn’t just about crab cakes, as the duo discussed ways to bolster tourism in both states. After a tough last two years, Governor Carney says he’s starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. “We’ve had more visitors to our Atlantic and Bay Beaches here in Delaware over the last year and certainly to our Delaware state parks who reached a peak last year in 2021,” Governor Carney said.

“We expect to be on course for having more visitors to our Delaware parks this year than ever before. So we’re really excited about that and I’m sure Governor Hogan can say the same about Maryland.”

Woody’s has been serving its award-winning crab cake in the resort town for over 13 years.

Owner Jimmy O’Connor says now with inflation on the menu,  its making things challenging.  It’s a challenge he says they’re up for. “The supply of crab meet is available again, the price is just higher than I would like it. But, the crowds are here and they’ll come all summer and we look forward to it,” O’Conor said.

Governor Carney adds he’ll continue to work Governor Hogan and Virginia Governor Glenn Younkin on ways to keep summer travel and tourism strong across the shore.