After 10 summers serving sweet treats from her signature pink trailer on Owensboro’s west side, Sheila Crowe has closed the chapter on Pinky’s SnowCones and Snacks — but her food journey is far from over.
Crowe has shifted her focus to Crowe’s Catering and a growing line of homemade desserts, which she now offers for events and curbside pickup. The decision to close Pinky’s wasn’t easy, she said, but it was necessary as her business evolved.
“I didn’t want to close Pinky’s down,” Crowe said. “But between the catering and the home baking with the desserts, I just don’t have the time to do everything — and that was the biggest liability.”
Pinky’s first opened in 2015 across from McFarland Funeral Home, later relocating to the corner of Poplar and Fifth Street behind the H.L. Neblett Community Center. Crowe, who grew up in Baptisttown, said the original idea was to offer something fun and affordable to kids in the area.
“I obligated my summers there for 10 straight years,” she said. “It’s bittersweet, but it’s time to do what’s best for myself.”
The stand became known for its vibrant snow cones, walking tacos, and rotating lineup of sweets. When Kentucky passed its Home-Based Processing law in 2018, Crowe expanded into baked goods and began offering curbside pickup from her home. In 2021, she left her full-time job to pursue food entrepreneurship full time — and in 2023, she formally launched Crowe’s Catering.
Unlike traditional bakeries, Crowe’s dessert menu centers on “treats and goodies” like honey bun cakes, chess bars, pecan pie, cheesecake salad, and taffy grapes. Her cheesecakes, she said, are a top seller.
“I don’t do your typical cakes,” she said. “It’s all the desserts you remember from growing up, made fresh and with love.”
Curbside pickup is available Wednesday through Saturday, with hours posted online. Larger orders and catering requests can be arranged through her Facebook business page.
“It’s not just soul food,” Crowe said. “You can get baked chicken, vegetables, healthier options — or go all out with meat and two sides. I’ve also got an appetizer menu and even soups and salads.”
She’s catered everything from employee luncheons and private dinners to weddings and community events. She credits much of her growth to support from the local food scene and business mentors like Ray McHenry, who helped guide her early on.
“I’ve learned a lot from people in this community,” Crowe said. “And I’m always up for a challenge. There’s no event too small — and if it’s big, I’ve got teammates I can call on.”
Crowe recently joined the Leadership Owensboro Class of 2026 and is also part of the city’s new mentorship program, working alongside community leaders to grow both personally and professionally.
“I want to be in rooms I wouldn’t otherwise be in,” she said. “I’m always looking to learn and take things to the next level.”
She hopes to one day open a brick-and-mortar kitchen to expand operations, though not necessarily a dine-in restaurant. For now, she’s focused on building her customer base and maintaining the same quality and care that defined Pinky’s.
“I’ve kind of outgrew the trailer,” she said. “I want a kitchen I can grow into — something I can build into a long-term business.”
The original Pinky’s trailer is now for sale, listed for $12,000 as-is. Crowe said she hopes someone will buy it and keep the business in the community.
“I’d love for it to stay in the neighborhood,” she said. “That’s where my heart is.”
As she reflects on her journey from frying chicken with her grandmother at age 9 to catering weddings and special events, Crowe said food has always been her passion — and the thing that brings people together.
“I’m a foodie. I’ll book a whole road trip just to eat,” she said. “And I’ll spare no expense on good food and good food experiences. That’s what I want to bring to other people.”
For Crowe, the closure of Pinky’s isn’t an end — it’s a stepping stone to something bigger.
“I’m just thankful,” she said. “I want people to keep thinking local. When you’re planning an event or craving something sweet, think about the folks in your own community first.”
Those interested in catering, desserts, or learning more can find Crowe’s Catering and Pinky’s Desserts and Treats on Facebook.
The Chamber Member of the Week program is a Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce membership benefit. Founded in 1913, the Chamber has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for over a century.
Today, with nearly 1,000 members, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives and serves as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.
To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Kitty Jones, director of membership, at 270-926-1860 or kjones@owensboro.com.
By: John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times