Lexington native, urbanist writer Nolan Gray, fondly describes his hometown neighborhood of Kenwick, an inner suburb of downtown Lexington KY, adjacent to Mentelle, and near Bell Court. It is buffered along the back by the now thriving Warehouse Block, and National Avenue corridor (near the railroad tracks).
Gray writes, for Strong Towns, “There is a lot about Kenwick’s urban form that I came to love while living there. The relatively high density of the neighborhood—6,865 people per square mile, compared to a citywide density of 1,087—means that for many residents, friends and family are close by and neighborhood services like groceries, elementary schools, and churches are sustainable.
“Crucial to Kenwick’s urban suburbanism is its unique mixture of uses. Unlike the new master planned residential subdivisions in the outer suburbs, Kenwick offers a mixture of housing types, public services, and commercial uses along a connected urban grid.
“Most unusually, the neighborhood also hosts a variety of commercial uses, including local shops and groceries, home-based businesses, and offices. Some of these uses enjoy special zoning carve outs, like Wilson’s Grocery.”
Wilson’s Grocery & Meats has been a neighborhood mainstay for 
decades, most recently purchased by Matt Bastin in 2023 and revived in 2024. The corner store has evolved and grown during his able stewardship over the past year — adding specialty fresh-baked pies and cookies from Honeyshine Pies, a comprehensive frozen section with lots of Lotsa Pasta offerings, Southland Bagels, grab n go GirlsGirlsGirls Burritos, and Sunrise Bread. You can also find a handy, small array of both grocery and hardware staples (like batteries and ice melt and dishwashing liquid).
Next up, Matt’s wife, Jill Bastin, has plans to create a store within a store — Wildling’s Bookstore.
“Wildlings Bookshop is a new bookshop, mostly for kids, that is inspired by a love of nature, art, dreaming, and everyday magic. With your help, we are bringing this lovely little indie bookstore dream to the cozy Kenwick neighborhood and its bungalows, busy sidewalks, and nearby schools, shops, and restaurants.”
She writes, “You can find Wildlings on instagram (@wildlings_bookshop), our website, and on our indiegogo page!”
Donations are welcome and she adds, “one of the best things you could do to help is to pass along our info to anyone you know with kids in their lives, or who would like to support adding a little more love to the community…. And let’s let it be a love story to the little wildlings in your lives, and ours.“
