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If you’ve ever wandered through Dumbo wondering where to grab a last-minute art class, find a cozy snow-day activity or track down a hyper-specific bakery, the Brooklyn waterfront neighborhood now has a new digital helper ready to answer. The Dumbo Business Improvement District has officially rolled out Dumbo Concierge, an AI-powered neighborhood guide designed to help locals, office workers and visitors navigate one of New York City’s busiest creative hubs.
Built by Dumbo startup Pull.City and available now online, the tool is less of a generic chatbot and more like a well-connected local who knows everyone. Users can ask conversational questions—anything from happy hour suggestions to kid-friendly activities—and receive written responses alongside curated listings, events and special offers sourced directly from the neighborhood.
What makes Dumbo Concierge different from typical search tools is its design. Instead of scraping the wider internet, the platform relies on information contributed and maintained by Dumbo businesses, organizations and community members. That community-managed approach, organizers say, keeps recommendations rooted in local knowledge while helping small businesses stay visible online.
“This is a very cool way to make sure AI supports our sense of community—instead of replacing it,” said Team Dumbo president Alexandria Sica in the announcement. “Just starting a new job in Dumbo? Move here recently? Here’s a way to discover the neighborhood’s many gems through the voices and expertise of the businesses and community members who make it special.”
Behind the scenes, Pull.City blends locally curated data with advanced AI models to deliver responses that feel tailored to a single place rather than the entire web. The company describes the platform as a “human-centered” deployment governed by the neighborhood itself, with information curated and updated by local stakeholders. A separate B2B version even allows office tenants and makers to connect.
The launch arrives as Dumbo continues to grow as a cultural and commercial destination, now home to more than 225 small businesses, more than 20 cultural organizations and a calendar of annual events that draws millions of visitors. According to Pull.City co-founder Elizabeth Brown, the goal is to shift digital discovery back toward local economies instead of funneling attention to big tech platforms.
For now, the Dumbo Concierge is live and free to use, meaning your next perfectly timed coffee stop or gallery hop might start with a tap on your phone instead of a frantic scroll through search results.