Shop Local: Top 100 Kentucky Businesses You Can Support This Christmas

This year has been a rough year for many businesses, especially small, locally owned ones. With the Christmas shopping season underway, consider supporting local businesses near you by shopping local in Kentucky.

Not only can you support local business owners in your area, but you can also find one-of-a-kind gifts that you wouldn’t be able to find in the chain retail stores. You can make your loved ones feel extra special with handmade gifts no one else has.

Every business on this list is a Kentucky owned business you can support by shopping local. Each one has also been recommended by (or is owned by!) a Kentucky mom, so you can guarantee they are worth checking out.

Many of these businesses also offer online shopping or curbside pick-up so you can shop safely this season.

Post Sponsor – La Très Jolie

Thank you to the sponsor of this post, La Très Jolie, for partnering with The Bluegrass Village.

If you’re looking for beautiful, sustainable Christmas gifts, La Très Jolie specializes in luxury coconut wax candles, which are hand-poured out of Louisville. Coconut wax is one of the most sustainable waxes available for candle-making, and the candles are poured into recycled glass jars. Live “the very pretty life” and pick up La Très Jolie’s candles this Christmas.

If you are interested in partnering with The Bluegrass Village, check out our Work with Us page.

Food and Drink

DV8 Kitchen – Lexington, KY

Enjoy good food for a good cause. DV8 is a casual breakfast/lunch cafe and bakery whose mission is to give those recovering from substance abuse a second chance for employment.

McCleod’s Coffee House – Lexington, KY

McCleod’s hires individuals with special needs to staff its café. Grab a coffee and a bite to eat, and then pick up a gift card, mug, or bag of coffee for someone on your list.

Noodle Nirvana – Berea, KY

This build-your-own noodle bowl restaurant in Berea has delicious food and a great cause. Each year Noodle Nirvana chooses a non-profit to promote in their store and donates a portion of its proceeds to that non-profit.

Stella’s Kentucky Deli – Lexington, KY

Stella’s Kentucky Deli offers breakfast and lunch dishes with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients.

Mrs. Rogers’ Popcorn & Sweet Shoppe – Versailles, KY

This is the place to shop for that someone with a sweet tooth on your list. KY Bourbon Balls, creamy Peanut Butter Balls, chocolate dipped pretzels, chocolate dipped Oreos, and many other handmade sweets can be found at Mrs. Rogers’. She is most known for her White Chocolate Popcorn!

Black Soil: Our Better Nature – Lexington, KY

The mission of Black Soil: Our Better Nature is to reconnect black Kentuckians to their legacy and heritage in agriculture. You can purchase produce, meats, and other goods from their store.

270 Nutrition – Bowling Green, KY

Do you have a health-nut on your list? If so, check out 270 Nutrition for healthy shakes, energy teas, protein coffee, pre/post-workout, and more.

Fayrouz Market – Bowling Green, KY

Fayrouz Market specializes in Mediterranean, European and Asian foods.

Art Eatables – Louisville, KY

Art Eatables is famous for its small-batch bourbon truffles. This sweet treat might be just the thing for the bourbon lover on your list.

The Blind Pig Bourbon Market – Bardstown, KY

The Blind Pig is a market for, well, everything bourbon. Not only do they have a large selection of bourbons, but they also specialize in bourbon food, bourbon spices, bourbon candy, and bourbon barware.

Apparel

Shop Local Kentucky – Lexington, KY

This shop specializes in all sorts of apparel dedicated to our very own bluegrass state. Their apparel is all ethically sourced and finished in a Lexington based manufacturing and distribution facility. Shop online or in their Lexington store.

Kentucky for Kentucky – Lexington, KY

This ground-breaking Kentucky company sells all sorts of Kentucky apparel, but they are infamous for their KFC scented candles and gold-plated fried chicken bone jewelry. A great choice for someone who likes eclectic gifts and has a sense of humor.

The Cotton Market – Richmond, KY

The Cotton Market boutique has a nice collection of women’s and children’s apparel, as well as accessories and gifts.

Em+Me – Georgetown, KY

This shop has a great selection of women’s apparel at affordable prices.

Chickadees127 – Lawrenceburg, KY

This little shop features women’s clothing, accessories, and more. So many cute items for a special lady on your list.

Rustic Rose Boutique – Nicholasville, KY

Kids and adult boutique clothing, accessories, custom orders, decals, & more!

Rustic Roots Boutique – Versailles, KY

A cute little women’s online apparel shop offering regular and curvy sizes.

The Bluegrass Boutique – Louisville, KY

The Bluegrass Boutique offers trendy women’s styles for clothing, accessories, and jewelry.

Authenticity Boutique – Bowling Green, KY

Authenticity Boutique offers trendy women’s apparel of all sizes.

The Sandy Pearls – Bowling Green, KY

If you have someone on your list that would enjoy some super unique, trendy jewelry pieces, The Sandy Pearls has you covered!

Dixieland Boutique – Bowling Green, KY

Dixieland is another great option for fashionable women’s apparel.

Bourbon & Lace Boutique – Bardstown, KY

At Bourbon & Lace you can find chic styles for women and babies.

A Repeat Boutique – Owensboro, KY

A Repeat Boutique prides itself on being one of the best consignment shops in Owensboro.

Byron & Barclay – Owensboro, KY

This boutique specializes in high quality menswear, but also has some women’s apparel as well.

Gift Shops

Jillian’s Specialty Gifts & Fine Wines – Richmond, KY

There’s a little bit of everything in this shop from wine and chocolate to accessories and candles. You could probably cross several people off your list in Jillian’s.

Green Street Gifts and Antiques – Versailles, KY

Green Street Gifts is a great place to find one-of-a-kind locally made gifts. You can find home decor, apparel, stationery, and more.

Completely Kentucky – Frankfort, KY

This gift shop in historic downtown Frankfort offers gifts of all types, made by 650 Kentucky businesses. Everything in the store is made and bought here in Kentucky!

Gathered Mercantile – Versailles, KY

Visit the store or shop online for home decor, baby/kids items, apparel, accessories, and vintage clothing. Stop by the adjoining coffee shop, Amsden Coffee Club (owned by the same folks) for a coffee while you’re visiting.

Mulberry&Lime – Lexington, KY

Mulberry&Lime offers an eclectic mix of home items and gifts out of its Lexington shop.

Story Lexington – Lexington, KY

A little shop that sells a wide variety of gifts and home items: furniture, plants, pots, decor, baby, and more.

Peggy’s Gifts & Accessories – Lexington, KY

Head over to Peggy’s to choose a gift for everyone on your list. Peggy’s got everything: clothing, accessories, bath and body, and more.

That Special Gift – Burlington, KY

This shop is really a smorgasbord – home decor, candles, accessories, and food goods.

The Lovely Closet Boutique – Alexandria, KY

The Lovely Closet offers clothing, jewelry and accessories for women.

Elementz – Maysville, KY

Elementz is a furniture and gift boutique in the heart of historic downtown Maysville, Kentucky.

Heart Strings – Bowling Green, KY

Heart Strings was named Bowling Green’s Best gift shop for 2016. There are a wide variety of gifts sold here.

Lost River Cave Gift Shop – Bowling Green, KY

The gift shop at the Lost River Cave is more than your usual souvenir shop. It offers unique boutique items of all kinds, and the proceeds go back to maintenance of the park.

Wild Bird and Nature Store – Bowling Green, KY

This store sells unique outdoor items, including birdhouses, feeders, birdbaths, and specialty seeds plus a variety of garden and nature-oriented gifts.

The Quail Hollow Candle Factory & Gift Shop – Adolphus, KY

Candles, primitives, antiques, and Amish goods make up the available items at this shop.

Kentucky Artisan Center – Berea, KY

The Kentucky Artisan Center serves as a traveler information and services center, but it also has a shop featuring Kentucky-made products, including crafts and other visual arts, music, books, and specialty food products from over 1000 artisans.

Preservation Station Market and Event Center – Owensboro, KY

The Preservation Station Market offers a unique variety of vintage, antique, and other goods in its former elementary school building.

The Back Room – Midway, KY

You can find home accessories of many kinds in The Back Room gift shop.

At Mary’s – Bardstown, KY

Home décor, gifts, art, antiques, jewelry, and candles are just some of the unique items you can find “At Mary’s”.

Work the Metal – Louisville, KY

You can find fashion apparel, jewelry, gifts, and home decor in Work the Metal.

scoutonmarket – Louisville, KY

At scoutonmarket, you can find a wide variety of gifts from home accessories and art, to gifts and jewelry.

Kentucky Derby Museum Gift Shop – Louisville, KY

The gift shop at the Kentucky Derby Museum provides gifts celebrating horses, the Kentucky Derby, and other Kentucky souvenirs.

Bookstores

Carmichael’s Bookstores – Louisville, KY

Carmichael’s is known for being Louisville’s oldest indie bookstore. Find a unique book at one of their Louisville locations.

CoffeeTree Books – Morehead, KY

Check out the book selection at CoffeeTree, then grab a coffee at FuzzyDuck Coffee Shop next door.

Roebling Point Books & Coffee – Covington, KY

This cozy little book store and coffee shop might just have the perfect gift for the book-lover on your list.

Arcadian Comics and Games – Newport, KY

If you’re shopping for someone a little on the nerdy side, check out Arcadian Comics and Games.

Heroes Comics & Gaming – Louisville, KY

Whether you’ve got a comic-book lover or a Magic: The Gathering player, you can find a great gift at this shop.

Joseph-Beth Booksellers – Lexington, KY

Joseph-Beth is an independent bookstore with a very large selection. Who needs Amazon anyways?

Big Bang Toys-Comics-Games – Owensboro, KY

A fun place to shop for action figures, trading cards, comics, and more!

Crafts and Handmade

Soulrebelex Bodycare & Studio – Lexington, KY

If you’ve got a free spirit on your Christmas list, Soulrebelex might have what you’re looking for. Everything is handmade and organic, including freshly grown herbal tea. They also offer massage, tarot reading, yoga, and reiki.

The Last Genuine Leather Company – Lexington, KY

You can find a large selection of leather goods and apparel at this Lexington shop. The perfect place to find a special gift for someone with an affinity for fine leather.

Oh Sew Cute – Georgetown, KY

This cute shop offers custom embroidery, applique, vinyl, sublimation and laser engraving.

Kraftin’ Kentucky – Georgetown, KY

This local online shop does vinyl and sublimation products – shirts, car decals, yeti and tumblr decals, mugs, wine glasses, etc.

Wright’s Wood Crafts – Georgetown, Richmond, and Frankfort, KY

Wright’s makes a variety of handcrafted items from bourbon barrel wood. You can contact them to create a custom item or shop one of their booths at Georgetown Peddler’s Mall, Richmond Peddler’s Mall, or Frankfort Peddler’s Mall.

This to That – Salt Lick, KY

This to That offers vintage, antique, repurposed and handcrafted goods, including apparel, candles, soaps, and more.

The Ole Red Barn Mall – Winchester, KY

The Ole Red Barn features multiple local vendors offering antiques, collectibles, everyday needs, and more.

Junkers for Missions – Lancaster, KY

This amazing mother-daughter team restores old items and sells a wide variety of locally made goods. They donate a portion of their sales to Los Brazos de Dios, a non-profit that supports children and families from El Salvador.

8:18 Designs, LLC – Lexington, KY

If you’re looking for that perfect rustic or vintage home decor piece, 8:18 Designs is where it’s at!

Art Center of the Bluegrass – Danville, KY

The Art Center has exhibits, galleries, classes, and events celebrating arts and culture. They have their Holiday Market from November 5 to December 23 where you can browser browse jewelry, pottery, fiber art, small paintings, Christmas ornaments, children’s toys, home decor, and more from local vendors.

Two Fillies Studio – Lexington, KY

Two Fillies Studio creates hand painted wall art for your home. They make door hangers, reclaimed wood art, and bourbon barrel stave art, and can customize for your ideas.

Local Kentucky 68 – Maysville, KY

Local Kentucky 68 is a market where lots of Kentucky crafters and creators can showcase their goods. A great place to shop and experience much of what Kentucky has to offer.

Celestial Scents Candles – Southgate, KY

You can pick up a soy-based candle or other personal care items at this Southgate shop.

Coda Co. – Bellevue, KY

Coda Co. is run by a husband and wife duo and specializes in eclectic home décor. All products are handmade and many of the materials used are up-cycled from bourbon barrels & coffee bags.

Apron Strings Quilt Shop – Maysville, KY

Apron Strings carries quilts and materials for quilt makers. They also offer classes, groups, and clubs – perfect place to shop for a quilter on your list.

Kyoti Kandles – Online Store

At this shop run out of northern Kentucky, you can find natural soy wax candles hand-poured into 16oz mason jars. Seasonal scents are available and make a perfect gift for the holidays.

Ohriverwood – Online Store

Ohriverwood’s owner Claire loves the Ohio River so much she started upcycling items she found walking along with it into cute knick-knacks and gifts.

MorrisonMade Leather – Online Store

MorrisonMade Leather makes handmade high-quality leather goods. The owners are in northern Kentucky.

Nifty Little Things – Online Store

A Kentucky husband and wife duo create custom wood creations with vinyl lettering.

Jamie Brooke Custom Designs – Online Store

This store does custom tumblers, monograms, decals, shirts, Christmas ornaments, and more.

Stitched with Family Ties – Online Store

This embroidery shop is based out of nothern Kentucky. They offer fun embroidered designs on shirts, jackets, and more.

Flame Run Glass Studio and Gallery – Louisville, KY

You can browse a variety of hand made glass products at this shop. You can also try your hand at blowing your own glass!

Make – Paducah, KY

Whether you want a cool place to shop for art and handmade goods or want to make your own, Make can provide.

Sassy TRASH LLC – Harlan, KY

There are some really unique pieces in this decor shop. Everything is salvaged junk upcycled into beautiful art pieces that really stand out.

Baby and Toys

The Magical Toy Shoppe – Lexington, KY

You can find unique toys and gifts for kids of all ages at The Magical Toy Shoppe.

Seeds & Saplings – Georgetown, KY

Seeds & Saplings has clothing, shoes, toys, and gifts for kids from infants to age 18.

Southern Sweet Boutique – Heidrick, KY

This boutique has cute apparel for children, including personalized items.

Dazzled Babies Boutique, LLC – Walton, KY

This boutique in Walton has children’s clothes in sizes newborn to 14 youth and women’s sizes S to 3X.

Learning Express Toys of Crestview Hills – Crestview Hills, KY

Learning Express Toys was voted best of 2020 NKY. You can browse a selection of fun children’s toys in this shop.

Playthings Toy Shoppe – Louisville, KY

Choose a fun toy for your little ones at Louisville’s only locally owned toy shop.

Lil Bit Sassy – Owensboro, KY

A children’s boutique for the sassy child in your life.

Treasure Kits – Online Store

Treasure Kits was created by two Kentucky moms who wanted to create sensory play kits for children. Let your kiddo’s creativity shine with one of their kits!

Happy Bee Boutique – Online Store

This online Kentucky-run store specializes in baby items: teething paci clips, teething rings and toys, mommy and me bows/earring sets, Boo Boo bags, toddler jewelry, and customizable onesies and toddler shirts.

BinkyShopCo – Online Store

This Kentucky-owned business names pacifier clips, teethers, and other custom made baby items.

BoxO’Rox Knitting – Online Store

Find a sweet gift for a little one at this shop which makes knitted finger puppets, toys, and doll clothes.

Crochet by Susan – Online Store

Pick out a cute crocheted elephant or a kid’s hat from this small Kentucky crochet shop.

Sporting Goods

Mike’s Hike And Bike – Richmond, KY

For the outdoors lover in your life. You can browse gear for backpacking, cycling, kayaking, and climbing.

Frank Miller & Son Sporting Goods – Owensboro, KY

This store has everything you need for the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, shooting, archery, gunsmithing, and live bait.

Nat’s Outdoor Sports – Bowling Green, KY

From apparel to camping gear and everything in between, Nat’s is your go-to sports store in Bowling Green.

J&H Lanmark – The Outdoors Store – Lexington, KY

Your one stop shop for all outdoor apparel and gear in Lexington.

Experiences

The Massage Center and Yoga Studio – Lexington, KY

Whether you’ve got a yogi or just someone who badly needs some R&R on your list, grab a gift certificate from The Massage Center.

Griffin’s Studio – Hopkinsville, KY

If you’re shopping for someone that loves art, Griffin’s Studio offers art classes, workshops, birthdays, private parties, pottery painting, toddler art time, and even take-home art kits.

Blue Meridian Dive Center – Owensboro, KY

How about scuba diving lessons for a truly unique experience gift?

The Pots Place Co-op Studio and Gallery – Bowling Green, KY

The Pots Place sells unique local art, but also offers yoga, Tai Chi, and pottery classes.

Be Happy Yoga & Salt Cave – Bowling Green, KY

Be Happy Yoga & Salt Cave is a creative place to get some relaxation time in. You can book a session in its one-of-a-kind man-made salt cave or sign up for a yoga class.

BB Riverboats – Newport, KY

BB Riverboats offers dinner cruises on its beautiful riverboats. Give someone the gift of an exciting evening on the Ohio River.

Classic Biplane Tours – Louisville, KY

Take a tour of Louisville… from the air! Purchase a gift certificate redeemable for a tour in a classic biplane.

Kentucky State Parks – Throughout Kentucky

Purchase a Kentucky Unbridled Spirit Gift Card and your recipient can spend it anywhere in Kentucky State Parks. The gift card can be used for food, lodging, purchases at gift shops, and more.

Looking for fun ways to get out and enjoy Christmas with the family this year? Check out our Kentucky Guide to Holiday Activities.

About the Author

Jennifer Crum

Jennifer is a writer and blogger who founded The Bluegrass Village. She also blogs at The Nerd Mom, a mommy blog for parents who love nerd culture. She is a wife and mama to four rambunctious kiddos. She and her family moved to Kentucky in the fall of 2019 and immediately fell in love with the Bluegrass State. She loves reading, gardening, and spending time outdoors with her kids and chickens.