What started with a few pieces of pottery and a dream of bringing people together has grown into one of downtown Owensboro’s most beloved local businesses. Willow & Pine Market is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month, a milestone that owner Anne Higgins credits entirely to the community that’s embraced her vision since day one.
“At the heart of everything is a love for gathering people around a beautiful table,” Higgins said. “It’s not really about the pottery or the gifts. It’s about the memories created when friends and family come together in a space that’s warm and meaningful.”
The boutique gift shop — known for its colorful Polish pottery, thoughtful gifts, and European-inspired aesthetic — has become a staple in downtown Owensboro. Higgins opened the store in 2019 in a small space across the street from her current location, unsure if she’d even fill the shelves.
“I honestly just hoped to be able to pay the bills,” she said. “I never imagined the store would become what it is today, and that’s entirely because of how good Owensboro has been to me. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude.”
Higgins originally discovered Polish pottery while living in Germany with her family, where her husband was stationed. She fell in love with the vibrant patterns and brought pieces back with her to Owensboro. Friends immediately took notice, and joking suggestions to “open a store” gradually turned into something more serious — especially after the passing of her father, which left Higgins with a renewed desire to chase her dream.
“I just kept thinking how special it was to create something that could bring people joy. That’s really where Willow + Pine began — with that feeling of connection and comfort,” she said.
In the years since, the store has grown well beyond pottery. It now features full gift collections for all occasions, a kitchen section with high-quality cookware and charcuterie essentials, and even an exclusive selection of ENewton Jewelry. Willow + Pine also offers wedding registries and locally curated goods that make it a favorite for both residents and visitors alike.
A year ago, the business gained another layer of meaning when Higgins’s daughter Isabel, who’d been there since the beginning, joined Willow & Pine full-time as store manager.
“It has been such a joy to share this experience with her,” Higgins said. “Watching her step into this role and make it her own has been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.”
As the store celebrates five years, Higgins is also looking ahead. With thoughts of potentially opening a second location in the future, she’s focused on dreaming bigger — but never losing sight of the small-town roots that made it all possible.
“I’m only able to even think about expansion because of how supportive our customers have been,” she said. “This community didn’t just support a business — they changed my life.”
That spirit of local support will be on full display during the first-ever Downtown Owensboro Small Biz Crawl, taking place May 22. Willow + Pine is one of several small businesses participating in the event, which encourages residents to explore local shops and restaurants with extended hours, pop-up vendors, music, and special promotions.
“This is such a great opportunity for people to see everything our downtown has to offer,” Higgins said. “We’ve all put our hearts and souls into our businesses, and events like this allow us to share that passion with the community in a fun, welcoming way.”
She added that the crawl also helps break down barriers for people who may not frequently shop downtown.
“Some people are still intimidated by things like parking or just not knowing what’s here,” she said. “But once they come down and see how vibrant and friendly it is, they usually fall in love with it.”
As for the name Willow + Pine, it came from a quiet moment of reflection as Higgins looked out the window at the two large trees in her backyard — one a willow, the other a pine. The pairing felt simple and serene, evoking the kind of calm and natural beauty she hoped to infuse in her store.
Today, the name also represents the steady growth and resilience of the business itself — deeply rooted in place, and always reaching toward the next chapter.
“None of this has happened because of me alone,” Higgins said. “It’s been the women who work beside me, my daughter, and most of all, the people of this community who have chosen, over and over, to walk through our door. I’ll never stop being grateful for that.”
