Blue Willow Restaurant & Gift Shop.
The search is on again for affordable trinkets and budget-friendly finds at Tucson’s local businesses.
This week, the $25 challenge takes on the Blue Willow Restaurant & Gift Shop!
Blue Willow, 2616 N. Campbell Ave., has been a beloved Tucson staple for almost 50 years, offering delicious brunch and dinner options and a wide selection of gifts and novelty items. I could probably go on and on about how much I love their crepes and their paninis, but one of my favorite things about Blue Willow has to be shopping their gift shop.
Whether you’re showing a visiting friend or family member to Tucson, looking for the perfect birthday present or just shopping for new treasures, Blue Willow is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat and find some new treasures. You’ll probably find things you didn’t even know you were looking for. And, even better, many of their items are under $25!
Celebrity Prayer candles at Blue Willow.
Does your devotion to a celebrity or musician border on worship? Do you have a friend who’s obsessed with Ice Spice, Lizzo or Olivia Rodrigo? For $24, why not grab one of the prayer candles Blue Willow sells with images of famous musical artists like Miley Cyrus and Tupac, or pop culture figures like Steve from Blue’s Clues. They sometimes even have Taylor Swift candles.
Jelly Cat selection at Blue Willow
If you’re a fan or collector of Jelly Cats, you’re in luck, because Blue Willow has a whole rack of adorable, food-themed plushies, including donuts, croissants and pretzels.
Croissant Jelly Cat for sale at Blue Willow
While most of the Jelly Cat items cost a little more than $25, their cute little croissant retails for exactly $25. Or, if you have a little more cash to spend, you could buy one of their pistachios or peaches.
Ceramic magnets by Tucson artist Laura Duncan.
No Tucson gift shop would be complete without a selection of locally made art, and Blue Willow is no exception. On their shelves, you’ll find ceramic cactus magnets made by local artist Laura Duncan, who specializes in creating hand-built modern mosaics and functional ceramic pieces.
Each magnet costs $9 and would make the perfect Tucson keepsake or fridge decor, bringing a little piece of the desert into your home.
Prints by Tucson artist Lady Kady Art.
For lovers of anything retro, weird and western, they also stock beautiful prints from Lady Kady Art. Her collages, illustrations and cyanotypes feature a blend of vintage and futuristic themes with desert landscapes and western iconography like cowgirls and saguaro cacti. You can pick up one of her prints for only $24.
Ceramics by Danica Jubilee adorned with lemons, cherries, and strawberries.
I’ve said it before, but I personally love mugs for my coffee or tea, and Blue Willow has many, many mugs in all different shapes and designs. Fringe Studio makes vintage-inspired dog and cat mugs which retail for $18, and Danica Jubilee has a line of mugs and bowls adorned with lemons, cherries, and strawberries. Their mugs cost $16, and their mini bowls cost $9. They also have ceramic berry cartons for $16.
Turtle's Soup stickers at Blue Willow.
There are also dozens of unique stickers, including some from Turtle’s Soup, a Tucson based business known for their aesthetic pastel designs, stickers, and accessories. All of the stickers are priced at $4 each.
Hair-clips for sale at Blue Willow Restaurant and Gift Shop.
Some of the other goodies I found are butterfly design hair clips for $10 and rows and rows of adorable socks — you’ll find socks with coffee, cats, saguaros, decorative floral designs and even pairs featuring cereal logos. Most of the socks cost between $12 to $20.
