Alligator Pie

A legacy of style, trust, and timeless fashion for kids

“Did you know us downtown?” Catherine Medak asks her customers when they cross the threshold of her store, Alligator Pie. The unique and vibrant children’s boutique has been the source of stylish clothing and accessories for newborns to fourteen-year-olds for almost four decades, operating for most of the first 34 years from a space in Manulife Place and the last four years from Crestwood Centre.

Big change arrived in 2020 when Holt Renfrew, the high-end retail “anchor of downtown shopping,” as Medak refers to it, closed its doors. She recognized then that relocating was necessary to continue serving the community, one that now included second-generation clients, for which she was immensely grateful. Asking customers if they knew of the store when it was downtown allows Medak to learn how long her clients have known Alligator Pie and what brings them to visit now. It’s the perfect conversation starter.

The daughter of a seamstress, Medak fell early for all things fashion-related. She was the first woman to work in men’s suiting in the early days of Harry Rosen. “I had no formal education in business, but I figured it out as I went,” says Medak. It was during that time she identified a niche to be filled—not in menswear, but in children’s clothing and accessories. For 38 years, she has carved a path in fashion, providing endless options for young customers.

Medak’s impeccable taste is evident in the artfully displayed inventory. Her extensive knowledge of every item in the boutique is helpful when looking for a baby or birthday gift, a back-to-school outfit, or anything in between, including the wildly popular and adorable Jellycats plush toys. Her curated brands include Moncler, Stella McCartney, Petit Bateau, and European brands like Molo. 

The trust she has built with clients through her attentiveness and patience has compelled people to return to her store over the decades. Medak understands and celebrates that children develop strong opinions about their style at a very young age. Her mission, still, after all these years, is to help them find a magical slice of Pie along the way.

Alligator Pie is located at 9654 – 142 Street, Edmonton.