Last Exit Books and Coffeehouse

A Perfect Escape: Coffee, Books, and Solitude Back then, all I really wanted was a quiet escape — just me, a cup of coffee, and a good book. There’s something deeply comforting about being alone in a peaceful spot, where time slows down and the outside world fades away. It wasn’t about loneliness; it was about finding clarity in solitude. The aroma of fresh coffee, the rustle of turning pages, and the gentle hum of a quiet café or a cozy corner at home — those were the best moments. No distractions, no noise, just a sense of calm that wrapped around me like a soft blanket. It’s in those little moments that I found the best kind of peace — simple, still, and soul-filling.

Love the coffee and atmosphere. Decent record selection-- metal area gets better each time I visit. Their blues section is a little on the white side, but overall it's a solid spot to crate dig and find some unique collectibles and the book collection is outstanding! Coffee is really good too. <3

Great spot to study and hang! I always try to grab a drink and peruse the book selection if I have time. Included pics of their drink options for everyone’s benefit

I had a theory that the workers follow people around the store. Whenever I go there, I get followed around by a man with long brown hair and he makes me feel very uncomfortable. I thought it was a one off but it has happened every time I have been in there. I have also had friends confirm that this same individual was doing this...so on that note...it sucks that I actually liked buying cheap books from there but I do not believe I will be returning because the environment seems quite hostile and honestly scary

Was able to my artwork,along with book signing, Author Ronna Russell used a piece for the cover of her book. Last exit is a great place..old books,comics and records,,great atmosphere,I hang out there about 3 times a week drink coffee, sketch and write in my journal,or to just sit there and read.. and hang out with old and young hippies.

Combo coffee cafe, bookstore and record store? Yes, please! Almost makes me wish I lived in the area. The manager is fantastic (disclaimer: she's my daughter) but totally objectively, she's awesome. I even like the owner, Jason for some reason (even though he said I was Disturbed) Great coffee, and a great book and record selection. Did I mention how the manager is a sweetie?

Super cute little coffee shop/bookstore. They have a wide selection of cheap books, as well as vinyls, clothes, CDs and more. Everyone there was super friendly too! I got an Iced Chai w/ blueberry flavoring while i was there, which was brought right to my seat when it was ready. It tasted really good and was also fairly priced! The seating there was also super cute! 100% will be going back

I love book stores, super nice, great people, love the little places to read, coffee shop had bookshelves with “cheaper” books

Love it here! I enjoy especially the coffee shop area, which is open till 8. This is great for working late when everywhere is closed. Their coffee itself is a *great price* and good quality. This place is great for grabbing a drink and reading/working/catching up.

Such a fun place! Delicious coffee, friendly service, lots of students, but also locals. I love the fact that they have a library/bookstore, and all the old vinyl records and movies from the past. You can definitely spend some time and money here.

My wife and I got Lost in the Last Chance Bookstore in Kent, OH during a rainy day respite from hiking in the Cuyahoga Falls National Park. This place was huge and had countless volumes of books and eclectic materials from our musical past to peruse (e.g. record albums, CD's, cassettes, used T-shirts, souvenirs, puzzles). The myriad of books were well organized and displayed. The staff were very friendly and attentive. Although we didn't take advantage of it, the place also had an attached coffee and bakery shop.

This is by far my favorite coffee shop in kent. The coffee is never too sweet, and the Asiago bagels are to die for. However.. there is one barista in particular I truly cannot stand. He is rude to staff, customers, and honestly just seems like he hates his life. He has long curly brown hair. I've seen him multiple times so I think he could be a manager. I have seen him on multiple occasions be rude to other baristas. Today I went in, and he just seems so judgemental towards anyone he talks to. He never smiles and barely talks. I watched someone tip him today, and he didn't even smile or say thank you. Overall, the baristas here are great. There are two girls in particular I always enjoy seeing, but when he is there the whole mood changes.

I did not know how much I missed the smell and feel of books! David and I stopped in here hoping to find a copy of one of his dad's books (if you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him! Sheldon Kopp) to give to my mom. The psychology section was tiny and we had no luck, but the sci-fi and the history sections were wonderful! Plan to spend hours when you visit. There is a coffeehouse just outside the book store, but we did not try it.

While vacationing at Cuyahoga Valley National Park, my husband and I looked for places of interest in the nearby city of Kent. Being book lovers, we ended up at Last Exit Books. What a gem!! The space is huge, housing a coffeeshop/bakery in the front and the most amazing collection of used books, records, DVDs, comic books, souvenirs, puzzles, vintage t-shirts and much more in the back portion. The owner was very friendly and spoke to us about how the store came to be. The books are organized much like a library (the space is as big as some branch libraries in our town!) and the non-fiction topics are wide and varied and of course a vast amount of fiction. There were also young adult and children's sections! Tables/seating are available throughout the space, and on a ledge above the retail space. I did find the rather loud country music a bit off-putting for a book store. I would find it hard to sit and enjoy a book or study in the space. If I lived nearby this would be a place that I would visit often!

Great bookstore! Highly recommended. Great selection of used books,& music. Comfortable coffee shop as well.

Such a cute place! When you first walk in, theres a foyer with local stuff happening soon/going on. That was fun to look through with my friends, seeing if there was anything we wanted to do soon. Next, you walk through a set of doors and you have entered the coffee shop/cafe area. I came in during the Wizardly World of Kent (aka Harry Potter Day), so they had special drinks for this. Hermione's Special had my name written all over it! It was a Maple Leaf Latte, and it was amazing! They have plenty of tables and booths to sit and do homework at or socialize with friends. Once we all got our drinks, we walked through the next set of doors which lead to the bookstore. I didn't really find any books that intrigued me, so I walked out empty handed, but I wasn't in there long. I'm sure if I was alone I would have found plenty of books! I'm almost positive all of them are used/previously loved books! They all seemed in great condition, just old. They were being sold at very low prices if you ask me!

1. For a used bookstore it wasn't that dusty; 2. The books that are displayed so you can see the cover are really well curated - I'd nearly forgotten that book displays are supposed to be of good books, what with the thoughtless choices most bookstores these days display. Nearly every single display I saw included one or two books about which I suddenly realized - 'Yes, that really was good - & I should reread it actually! And what are these other books next to it I've never heard of? Could they be as wondrous as the one I know?' ; ) 3. They had so many albums for sale, it made me want to become one of those mysterious record player-owning, record-listening people. 4. I didn't check the prices of albums, but the books seemed to be really reasonably priced, which is so nice - it sucks to find a treasure only to have to leave it, inevitably to collect more dust for years & years, unrecognized by anyone, because it's the same price as, or only a dollar cheaper than just buying a new one on Amazon. 5. It seems there's a cafe too?! Wow! 6. The staff, though they didn't say anything, at least acknowledged me with a nod & a smile. Thank you. Hope to be back in soon.

Last exit books is located in the newly renovated and incredibly fun Acorn Alley section of Kent. This entire area as a whole is wonderful. Last Exit is a great little used book store with books from every genre as well as music including vinyl. I generally look for Christian and Theology books and this place is simply the best second hand book store that I have ever found for religious books. There aren't shelves filled will old Joel Osteen books and endless copies of the Left Behind Series. The several book cases dedicated to religious studies are filled with classic commentaries, solid authors, and some great scholarship. Last Exit recently open a coffee shop as well that serves Bent Tree Coffee which is roasted locally in Kent. Go check it out!

went in here got coffee then went to go look at the movies with my bf and we were talking in a whisper because it's a very studious place and this lady racially profiled me assuming I was stealing when I didn't even have a bag or anything on my person, I had no pockets. we told her we didn't have anything and haven't even touched anything. and then she proceeded to check the shelves to double check. I then asked her why she thought we were stealing while I was purchasing something and she got defensive and made a point to call out my annoyed demeanor when my boyfriend was being sweet and understanding with her. and then she stopped talking as soon as another worker walked in when all we asked for was a simple answer. i didn't appreciate being talked down to as well as the profiling while just trying to have a good night and it ended up being ruined. we have gone there multiple times in the past week and spent over a hundred dollars in this past week. I do know we won't be giving them our business anymore.

Awesome café in there. I go to see Rose, stay for the bomb ass coffee, tea, and company . They also host Death Cafés there sometimes, which I find very helpful and genuine .

There are days I wish the internet did not exist. Even if that means that I could no longer infiltrate the collective consciousness of the community via Yelp. People buy books online using Amazon and eBay. There are some who even prefer to read them on electronic devices. They cease to be books when transmitted to electronic data. Online shopping is good for finding a rare book. I feel guilty to do so when so many book stores are going out of business. I came to Last Exit Books in Kent looking for Henry Miller's Tropic of Cancer. They did not have it. What they did have was a very knowledgeable store owner who has read many of the books in his store. It is nice to have human interaction. Somebody can vocally recommend similar books instead of clicking links to something you may also enjoy. There is a nice 50 cent rack of books with some great titles. Last Exit Books is a must stop shop in Kent. It is worth the drive down from Cleveland and superior to Half Price Books. The owner is an interesting and enjoyable person to speak with. He also has good taste in music. Billy Bragg and Wilco played while I shopped.

Nice used book store tucked inside a larger building. Shopping here is a book lovers dream - walking in well stocked shelves that house some real finds rather than just mass produced best sellers. It's about exploring and discovering a treasure at wonderful prices.

This is my favorite bookstore in Ohio. Such a nice little place, with a lot of great books at way lower prices than the big stores, and even cheaper than buying online sometimes. The coffeeshop is also really good, although the price of the coffee is not that cheap. Overall, though, it's a cute place with a good vibe. One of my favorite spots in Kent, for sure.

I have mixed feelings about Last Exit Books. There are things I love about it, and things I find a bit frustrating. What I love: -I love that they have a coffee bar now, which is very fitting. Get a nice cup of coffee and get lost in the maze of books. -The owner is super friendly and very helpful. Just an absolute great guy. -Fair offers on trade-ins. -HUGE selection of books, movies, and vinyl records. It's amazing that they fit so much stuff into one place. -Very good prices on all items. -I purchased many of my Calvin and Hobbes books here, which are dear to me. What frustrates me: -Most of the time, I walk out disappointed that I couldn't find what I was looking for. I typically walk into bookstores with a long list of books I'm looking for, and I often walk out of Last Exit Books without finding anything on my list. Often is the case that I don't see any books by the authors I'm looking for, whose work I know I would easily find at most other bookstores. I know what you're thinking... as a used bookstore, they can only sell what they get. But that doesn't change the fact that I've walked out disappointed and empty-handed more often than not. -I've had similar experiences with their vinyl record collections. Overall: Downtown Kent absolutely needs a place like Last Exit Books. It's a unique store with a great atmosphere, and it's easy to get lost in everything they have to offer. Unfortunately, by only selling used books, the inventory is a product of what others are willing to get rid of... and it seems to me that this results in serious gaps in what Last Exit Books has to offer.

Last Exit Books has exactly what every local book store should: a friendly, super knowledgeable owner. He knows what book you're talking about even if he doesn't have it. The book selection isn't bad either. He had what I was looking for for $5 (retails at $17), so I was happy. The books are in good condition too. They just renovated/expanded, and the digs are quite spacious (used to be cramped, I hear). It is a pleasant interior with some nice artwork and decent seating. The storefront is very unassuming, and not much to look at. In fact, it would be easy to miss. The store also carries records, but they currently aren't all out because of the shifting due to the expansion. There are also small musical acts that perform at the store occasionally. The owner appreciates Jazz, so understandably that is what tends be playing. So far this is the first place I have found in Kent that features live Jazz (other than performances at KSU).

Last Exit is great. Jason, the proprietor, is incredibly book-savvy. He has a great collection of stuff, and the books are always in sparkling condition. I think the poetry selection is especially strong--hands-down, it beats out any other bookseller in the area. I recently moved out of town, and this bookstore is deeply missed. Stop by and check it out! It won't disappoint.

I love used book stores! And I love that Kent has one! This place is much bigger than you'd think, and they have a pretty big selection, too. Have nothing to do one afternoon? Go browse the shelves here for a couple of hours. Chances are, you'll find some good gems. As with any used bookstore, you do need time and patience to navigate the shelves, but it's well worth it. They also have a selection of movies and music, if you're so inclined. The staff are very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable, so they can probably tell you if they have what you're looking for. But my advice? Don't go in looking for something specific. Just browse around until something catches your eye!

New location they definitely deserved. But I kinda miss the crammed bookstore charm, and the records. Nontheless its currently my favorite bookstore. Its oriented towards BOOK books more than anything. Not cookbooks, reference books, etc. etc. You get the sense that its very much tailored for a kinda specific person, but... thats probably you.

I love this place! The coffee is good, they have a nice selection of books- you can't go there and not find something you're interested in! The staff are friendly and I'm planning on going back.

This is the type of book shop where I could easily spend hours poking about & exploring new literally outlets. In fact, I really miss seeing old book stores like this & will gladly shop here over high priced, crowded and cooperate run stores such as Barnes&Nobel, etc... I find that type of environment suffocating to the creative mind instead of inspiring. This cute little shop might not have the latest Oprah book or junk autobiographies on the hottest celerity but that's exactly why I like it! It's organized, unique and a great way to support your local businesses. They have a huge selection of books that only cost a dollar!!! And I've never walked out of their empty handed- a must see attraction to the curious mind :)

Very reasonable prices, books in good condition, clean atmosphere, huge selection that is well categorized and a friendly and helpful staff. Everything you could want in a used book store. They have recently expanded and have even added a coffee shop. I have no problem rating Last Exit Books 5 stars.

Check the vinyls they have !!!!! Awesome! You can spend a good afternoon time in the store! Even just by urself!;)

This is a nice little bookstore in downtown Kent. Inside a nice variety of everything is nicely organized and fairly priced. If you want to boost your collection or just get a new book check this place out.

Great little hole in the wall bookstore. Offer both new and used merchandise. The girl working on both days I have gone in was so very nice and helpful. I've been looking for a particular book and she had no idea what i was talking about, but used her own handheld device to look it up. Also discussed with me some of the books I was purchasing. I love bookstores like this. My experiences at this particular bookstore has been keeping me coming back!

The best place for books, not only in Kent but in the surrounding area. The owner is knowledgable and friendly, and the staff is just as nice. I remember when the place was small, and it's great to see how much it has expanded over the years; nice to see a local place succeed.

favorite store in Kent. great selection of used LPs and both used and new books at incredibly reasonable prices. knowledgeable and kind proprietor. after expansion, the store looks amazing, more room for gatherings and so much great materials to choose from. if you are looking for a book to read, go here first!

Another little gem in the city of Kent. The store is filled with mostly used books but they also have some new ones come in here and there. I'm a vinyl junky and Last Exit has a variety of records at good prices. From Jazz, Rock, Pop. Also there is new stock that comes in. I got the Jack White lp I couldn't find anywhere for awhile. Jason the owner is a pleasure to know. Worth a visit you'll usually find something

This is a great little unassuming used bookstore. For some reason my first impression was that they bought and sold textbooks, so I must have walked by several times before I realized that they sold other books too (plus DVDs and VHS, as I learned). I had my 2-year-old with me, so we focused on the kids books. Their selection was small but good, and very reasonably priced. Whoever runs the place must be a genius because they placed the self-help books just above the children's shelves... While my toddler was deciding which book she wanted, I was able to grab a couple of titles on managing the terrible 2s. We both walked out feeling good. Great little shop, I'll definitely be back. Only warning: definitely not stroller friendly. Aisles are very narrow and crowded. Even the employee knocked a pile of things over when he went to ring me up. Wouldn't prevent me from going back, just be prepared!