Host Sheila Edwards, Fixture at Cafe D'Mongos, Retiring

Sheilla Edwards (Facebook photo)

Sheila Edwards, the long-time host at Cafe D'Mongos on Griswold in downtown Detroit, is retiring, much to the chagrin of owner Larry Mongo.

In a Facebook posting, Mongo writes about Edwards, who has been the host for about seven years: 

Cafe Dmongos is so sorry to tell you that the Queen of the Gate of entry Sheila Edwards, is retiring May 20th, the Gate of entry will never be the same,matter of fact Dmongos won't be the same without her.

How to replace her? "You Can't." She's an original one of a kind in the Family of Miles Davis,the Monk,Van Gogh, Mozart, all we can do is enjoy. So I'm asking everyone who have met Shelia please come by in the coming weeks and say how much she's LOVED and there's no two Drink minimum when you say, I LOVE YOU Shelia.

TBD magazine wrote this about her last November: 

She’ll chat with you in what she calls “Twitter talk,” a brief exchange (140 words or less, she says) to make sure you find a seat or make your way to the crowded bar, as regulars and newcomers line up outside the door of the popular Griswold Street nightspot, tucked between a four-story Synagogue and a non-descript parking garage, just a few blocks from the city’s Capitol Park.

If you’re really lucky, you might see Sheila Edwards take the microphone and join the band, Carl & Company, to sing a cover of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” or Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee.” Rock is not her forte ‒ she’s more accustomed to singing jazz or American Songbook standards ‒ but singing is in her blood.