Little Brooklyn Gives Lower Central Its Own Kind of Cool
Little Brooklyn is Dover’s southern downtown pocket where vintage tags come with typewritten wit, lavender drinks meet blueberry boba, and wings come with axe throwing. It is a little quirky, a little "further down Central", and full of places that make the block feel like its own destination.
It is not the loudest part of downtown Dover, but that’s exactly why it works. Welcome to "Little Brooklyn".
The name is not new. According to Rebecca Earle, owner of vintage shop Hello Again, the nickname has been floating around Dover for years.
“I had heard about Little Brooklyn even before I opened the business four years ago,” Earle said. “The lore is that it goes back to when Adele’s was open and the taco place [Dos Amigos Burritos] was on the corner.”
This throwback nickname is finding a whole new life this summer as shop owners have released a passport program and website to encourage visitors and locals to tour the area.
“You could spend an entire day here,” Earle said.
That day might start around the corner on Hale Street, tucked into a window seat at Bad Batch with a brown sugar latte watching cars move past City Hall. From there, the block starts to unfold: racks of one-of-a-kind vintage at Hello Again, where a 1970s skirt might hang beneath a typewritten joke; art tables and live music at Aplomb; outdoor gear at Fire on the Mountain; steaming bowls of tonkotsu ramen and crispy chicken karaage at Ichi; and, later, cocktails at Stalk, pinball and old-school arcade games at Tokens, or wings and axe throwing at Wing-Itz.
Enter the Little Brooklyn Passport, a small blue zine-style guide. It is simple, creative, and a little underground in feel, more like something you would find at an art show or tucked beside a register than a glossy tourism brochure.
“The whole idea is that every business has something different to offer,” Earle said. “You can spend a whole day walking, dining, getting services, having art experiences, and shopping.”
Visitors can pick up a passport at participating Little Brooklyn businesses and collect unique stamps. Once the passport is complete, visitors can turn it in at Wing-Itz for a weekly raffle featuring gift cards and prizes from participating Little Brooklyn businesses.
Earle said the idea came together through a collaboration between herself, Chris Dupont of Fire on the Mountain, Danielle Festa at Aplomb, and Connor Gowland at Wing-Itz. After the idea to revive the Little Brooklyn name started circulating, the rest of the block joined in.
“I think the fact that we’re all different and not competing with each other makes [Little Brooklyn] work,” Dupont said.
A longtime skier himself, Dupont said he hopes people begin to see Fire on the Mountain as more than a winter ski shop. The store also serves hikers, campers, fly fishers, and year-round outdoor athletes.
Dupont took over Fire on the Mountain a few years ago and moved the business to 264 Central Ave. in June 2025, giving the shop more visibility and room to expand its offerings.
“We carry a lot of brands that people search for online but can now get right here in Dover, like Arc’teryx and Patagonia,” he said, adding that the passport program may bring in visitors who might not have stopped in otherwise. “I just want people to come in and have a conversation with a staff member. Once they get to know us, they’ll see our customer service is at a different level for our industry.”
That is the real draw of Little Brooklyn. It gives visitors permission to wander in an area created by people who took chances on small spaces and built businesses with strong identities.
“Even before I had the shop, I always noticed this building,” Earle said of her retail space. “I thought it was interesting because of the leaded window panes, the history. I admired the building, and it happened to be available when I was looking in Dover.”
Part of the charm is that Little Brooklyn does not feel overly planned. It feels found. One storefront might pull you in with a vintage dress, another with coffee and a breakfast sandwich, another with a reason to stay out later than you meant to. The businesses are different, but together they give the block a loose, creative rhythm.
Start with free public parking on Kirkland Street, skip the meters, and walk the block at your own pace.
Explore Little Brooklyn Dover
Participating Little Brooklyn businesses include:
Wing-Itz Dover - Wings, comfort food, casual dining, and axe throwing.
Aplomb Gallery & Art Café - Contemporary art, handmade goods, art experiences, and Saturday live music.
Fire on the Mountain - Ski, snowboard, fly fishing, hiking, camping gear, and outdoor essentials since 1989.
Hello Again - Vintage clothing, sustainable shopping, colorful style, and outfit-building help.
Ichi Ramen - Japanese-inspired ramen, rice bowls, and flavorful casual dining.
Chemistry Hair Studio - Creative hair services in a modern downtown salon.
Tokens Taproom - Craft beverages and retro arcade games.
Stronghold Barber Shop - Classic barbering, modern cuts, and community connection.
Stalk - Cocktails, fine dining, local farms, and Seacoast-inspired food.
Bad Batch - Coffee, pastries, creative lattes, boba tea, and canned cold brews.
Pin Up - Hair salon focused on beauty, style, and self-expression.
Photosmith - Photography printing services.
