A 200-year-old mill in Dover, New Hampshire, has been turned into a medieval candy kingdom, complete with dragons, a drawbridge, and giant milkshakes loaded with toppings.
Lickee’s & Chewy’s Candies & Creamery sells sweets from around the world, including British chocolates, nostalgic American candy, and hundreds of bulk candy choices. The shop also makes its own chocolates, fudge, and caramel treats.
But this isn’t just a place to buy candy. Visitors can explore the castle-themed decorations, pose near a royal throne, and order one of the shop’s oversized King Shakes.
Here’s what makes this unusual New Hampshire candy store worth a visit.
A Candy Kingdom on Washington Street
Dover has plenty of old mill buildings, but only one of them hides a candy fortress. Lickee’s & Chewy’s Candies & Creamery sits at 53 Washington Street, Suite 100, in Dover, New Hampshire, right in the city’s historic downtown mill district.
The shop mixes three things under one roof. You get a candy store, an ice cream counter, and a chocolate kitchen where treats are made by hand.
That combination is rarer than you might guess.
The setting matters too. Dover grew up around its mills along the Cocheco River, and these sturdy buildings once kept the town busy with work.
Today, one of them keeps it busy with gummy worms and fudge.
I find that shift oddly satisfying. A building made for long workdays now hosts kids carrying little baskets and adults hunting for candy they haven’t seen since grade school.
The store opens daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to its current listing, so it works for an afternoon treat or an after-dinner stop. Before you even reach the counter, though, you have to get past the front door, and that involves a drawbridge.
Cross the Drawbridge, Meet the Dragons
Knights would feel at home here, assuming knights liked sour gummies. The whole shop leans into a medieval theme, and it commits fully.
Visitors enter by crossing a decorative drawbridge into what the shop treats as a fortress. Dragons appear in the decor, and a leather throne waits near the entrance for anyone ready to pose for a photo.
Out front, a pumpkin coach decoration greets families on the walkway. Young kids tend to spot it right away, and it sets the fairy tale mood before anyone touches a single candy bar.
My favorite detail might be the candy round table. It’s a playful nod to King Arthur, and it fits the shop’s sense of humor perfectly.
The space is packed with merchandise, so it can feel snug during busy moments. That fullness is part of the fun, though.
Every corner seems to have something to look at, whether it’s a dragon or a jar of jelly beans.
Plan a few extra minutes just to look around. The decorations deserve attention, and they change with the seasons, which brings us to some of the shop’s most festive moments of the year.
Halloween and Christmas Get the Royal Treatment
October in this shop looks a little spookier than usual. Halloween decorations are one of the things people mention most often about Lickee’s & Chewy’s, and the medieval setting gives them plenty of room to play.
Christmas brings another transformation. The store gets freshly decorated for the holidays, turning the castle theme into something closer to a winter fairy tale.
I like that the decor doesn’t stay frozen all year. Coming back in a different season means seeing the space in a new way, which is a smart reason to visit more than once.
The holidays also make the shop handy for gift shopping. Hand-dipped chocolates work well as presents, and they feel more personal than a grocery store box.
Stocking stuffers are easy to find too, especially with so much nostalgic candy around.
If you’re bringing kids during December, expect them to slow down. There’s a lot to see, and little shoppers like to examine every shelf before choosing anything.
Seasonal changes reach the menu as well. A fall shake has appeared in past years, which hints at how creative the ice cream counter can get.
That counter deserves its own spotlight.
King Shakes Wear the Crown
Ordinary milkshakes come with a straw. King Shakes come loaded with so many toppings that you may need a plan before taking the first sip.
These towering drinks are the most talked-about item at Lickee’s & Chewy’s, and the name fits the castle theme nicely. Each one is built to look as much like a creation as a dessert.
Past flavors have included caramel turtle, s’mores, peanut butter, and a hazelnut-inspired version. A seasonal fall shake has also shown up on the menu.
Flavors can change, so check what’s available when you arrive.
I’d bring a friend for this one. Sharing makes sense, especially if you also want to save room for candy or chocolates to take home.
Photos are almost guaranteed. People like to snap a picture before digging in, and the shakes are clearly designed with that moment in mind.
A practical tip: grab plenty of napkins. Tall toppings and young kids are not always a tidy combination.
If a shake sounds like too much, the shop has a calmer, build-your-own option waiting at the ice cream counter.
Sundaes, Scoops, and a Stuffed Oreo
Ice cream fans get plenty of choices here. The creamery side of the shop offers lots of flavors, and you can build your own sundae instead of picking a set recipe.
That freedom matters if you have picky eaters in the group. One person can go simple with a single scoop, while another stacks toppings like a mountain climber.
Bakery treats join the lineup too. One standout is a stuffed Oreo cookie filled with brownie and Nutella, which sounds like something a kid would invent on a rainy afternoon.
Macarons are also on hand, giving the menu a more delicate option. They pair well with a coffee-free afternoon of browsing.
In winter, a hot cocoa bar becomes a big draw. New Hampshire winters can be long and chilly, so a warm cup of cocoa feels like the right reward after a walk downtown.
Seating is available if you want to eat inside, and the decorations make that worth doing. Sitting near a dragon while finishing a sundae is not something most towns can offer.
Still, plenty of guests skip the spoon entirely and head straight for the candy shelves.
Chocolates Made Right Under the Castle Roof
Most candy stores buy their chocolates from somewhere else. Lickee’s & Chewy’s makes its own, and that detail quietly sets it apart.
Handmade chocolates fill the glass cases and appear on displays throughout the store. Many are hand-dipped, which gives them a homemade quality you rarely find in packaged boxes.
Chocolate turtles are a favorite worth trying. That classic mix of chocolate, caramel, and nuts never really goes out of style.
Cookie dough chocolates show up too, along with homemade fudge for anyone who prefers a thick slab of sweetness. Fudge travels well, which makes it a smart choice if you’re driving home after your visit.
I’d suggest picking a small mixed box rather than a big batch of one thing. Trying a few different pieces is half the fun, and it helps you find a new favorite for next time.
The shop has also mentioned the possibility of offering classes, though that’s worth confirming before you plan around it. Learning to dip chocolate in a castle would be quite a story to tell.
Meanwhile, plenty of the store’s treats come from much farther away than the back kitchen.
Snacks With Passports
A trip overseas isn’t required to try British chocolate. Imported candy has a home on these shelves, including Cadbury bars from the United Kingdom.
International treats are one of the reasons candy lovers make the drive to Dover. Chocolate made in other countries often uses different recipes than American versions, so even familiar brands can taste new.
Non-American chocolates sit alongside plenty of other imports. The selection can rotate, which keeps repeat visits interesting.
I like the idea of turning this section into a mini taste test. Pick one bar from home and one from abroad, then compare them on the car ride back.
This aisle is also handy for gifts. Someone who has lived overseas might be thrilled to find a snack they remember from years ago.
Kids get a little geography lesson without realizing it. Reading wrappers in other languages or spotting faraway countries on the labels adds a bit of curiosity to the sugar rush.
Of course, not every great treat comes from far away. Some of the shop’s most loved candy comes from right here in American history, straight out of your grandparents’ childhood.
Penny Candy and Grandpa’s Favorites
Grandparents often become the tour guides in this part of the store. Old-fashioned and retro candies fill the shelves, and many of them look exactly as they did decades ago.
Penny candy is a big part of the appeal. Picking small pieces one at a time feels like a throwback to the classic general store experience.
Kids can grab a little basket and wander. Letting them choose their own candy turns a quick stop into a real adventure, and it teaches a bit of decision-making too.
I’d encourage families to swap stories here. Asking an older relative which candy they bought as a kid can lead to some surprisingly fun conversations.
Jelly Belly fans can fill a custom bag with exactly the flavors they want. No more sorting out the ones you don’t like.
Vegan shoppers have options as well, with plenty of plant-friendly items on hand. That makes the shop easier for mixed groups with different needs.
Nostalgia is sweet, but some visitors want their candy to bite back. For them, the shop keeps a whole lineup ready to make faces scrunch.
Sour Challenges and a Five-Pound Gummy Bear
Sour candy fans, this is your aisle. Worms, sour patch candies, super sour bears, and fish all show up in the lineup.
Some options get seriously intense. Staff members are happy to point brave customers toward the sourest picks, so asking for help can lead to a memorable pucker.
Gummies come in plenty of forms beyond sour. Shoppers can find chewy classics, fruity shapes, and some oversized surprises.
Size is where things get silly. The store carries a five-pound gummy bear and a huge gummy worm, which raise an important question about who could finish one.
I’d honestly buy the giant bear just for the reaction. It makes a hilarious birthday gift or a centerpiece for a movie night with friends.
Practical tip: big gummies are best shared. Cutting them into pieces with a knife makes them much easier to enjoy over several days.
After a sugar rush like that, many guests want something to do besides eat. Luckily, the front of the shop has a few playful distractions waiting near the drawbridge.
Games, Souvenir Pennies, and Parking Smarts
Candy isn’t the only thing to bring home. A souvenir penny machine lets visitors press a collectible Lickee’s & Chewy’s coin before leaving.
Games sit near the front entrance, including a ball maze that couples and kids enjoy playing. These small extras give little ones something fun to do while adults finish shopping.
The owner is often present and seems to enjoy greeting first-time visitors. The staff is friendly and helpful, which makes asking questions about candy easy.
Parking takes a bit of planning. A few spots sit right outside the shop, and paid parking is available in a lot nearby and on the next street over.
I’d plan to walk a little, especially on weekends. Downtown Dover is pleasant to stroll, so the extra steps aren’t a problem.
The shop stays open until 8 p.m. every day, giving you flexibility for evening visits. That’s handy after dinner downtown.
Leaving with a pressed penny feels like the right ending. It’s a tiny reminder of a castle full of candy hiding inside an old New Hampshire mill, and it won’t melt in the car.
Share this story
