Kennedy’s Wildcat Den

I visit their art store frequently, the best art supply store in Lexington. Prices are comparable to Michael’s and other art stores though has items you wouldn’t find the big box stores. Friendly customer service.

Family-​owned with top notch service, Kennedy’s is where I head for UK apparel, college/​art supplies, and text books. It’s in a great location in the heart of UK’s campus and offers a huge selection of anything «UK» — I seldom leave without finding just what I’m looking for. And if I don’t see it on the shelves, Kennedy’s staff is always very helpful. I recently went in to buy a UK t-​shirt and couldn’t immediately find my size; a staff member went out of his way to assist. Although I do my share of shopping on-​line, it’s just wonderful to have that personal touch!

Are there other bookstores around the University of Kentucky? Yes. There is the school-​operated University of Kentucky bookstore across the street. There is an eCampus outlet down a block away, and Wildcat Textbooks down the street a couple of blocks.
Any one of these places will sell you textbooks, for more-​or-​less the same price. You might save a few cents or a couple of dollars on some books here or there, but not vast savings.
Kennedy Book Store is more of a one-​stop-​shop for the college student. Unlike the other bookstores, it has a wide selection of not just office/​school supplies and study guides, but supplies for dorm rooms, college logo clothing and fraternity/​sorority insignia wear, calculators and other electronics and the various supplies a college student (especially an undergraduate living on-​campus) will need or want.
Also, they have «The Art Part», a fairly comprehensive art supplies store which has a separate entrance but is accessible from the main store. If you’re an art student (or just artistically inclined), it’s the only place even remotely close to campus to buy paints, brushes and other art supplies.
You could probably get many/​most of these items cheaper if you knew just where to look somewhere around town. For a college student without a car, or that is new to Lexington that isn’t much help. Kennedy Bookstore offers a wide selection of merchandise in a convenient location.
So, while it may not be the cheapest place to buy books (but not far more expensive than other places either), for college students looking to do «one stop shopping» for everything they need for class, Kennedy Bookstore will be where you want to go.

I think the only way this place stays in business is because there is a new freshman class every year without transportation that doesn’t know any better and doesn’t use Unilocal. Save your money and don’t get ripped off. Use eCAMPUS or Amazon for books and there are plenty of reasonable Kentucky Stores in Lexington that don’t give you big dollar coupons off really overpriced merchandise.