Reviewed by: Emily Phillips
Little Cotton Shoppe has all the gifts for the kiddos
Chances are, there’s some little ones on your gifting list this year. Before you hit one of the big-box stores to find gifts for all the kiddos in your life, check out this shop-local option in Huntsville.
We talked with Lauren Fitzgerald, owner of Little Cotton Shoppe, to find out more about her business and what makes it special.
The story of Little Cotton Shoppe
With a background in retail (working for small business retail shops in Birmingham and for Under Armour), Lauren Fitzgerald always wanted to own a retail shop of her own. In 2019, that dream came to life—and we’re glad it came to life here in Huntsville!
Lauren Fitzgerald and her family moved to Huntsville to be closer to family, but they didn’t plan on staying long—”maybe six months,” Lauren said. That was five years ago, and they’re still here!
Lauren and her family fell in love with the Huntsville area. She decided to fulfill her dream of owning a retail store here, wanting to bring more options and fresh items for kids to Huntsville.
She started exploring her options in the summer of 2019 and, by November 1 of the same year, Little Cotton Shoppe opened its doors.
Lauren’s inspiration
Lauren and her husband (who is a Major in the Army) have three kids of their own, Charlie—7, Oliver—5 and Harper—2.
Her kiddos are what sparked the idea for making the retail shop that she dreamed of a kids store. She explained that her kids have grown up at Little Cotton Shoppe in a way, and that customers have gotten to know her kids at the shop.
Now, seeing other children come into the store continues to spark inspiration for her. In fact, that one of Lauren’s favorite parts about running Little Cotton Shoppe.
“Getting to know people in the community—it’s helped me feel connected to Huntsville.”
Lauren Fitzgerald, owner of Little Cotton Shoppe
That connection to the community has grown as Lauren’s customers have become her friends.
What you can find at Little Cotton Shoppe
Little Cotton Shoppe truly is a one-stop-shop for kids gifts. Lauren brings in all kinds of special items—clothes, shoes, toys and books.
There are a couple of brands that Little Cotton Shoppe carries that they’ve become known for—Maileg and Kyte Baby. Maileg makes the sweetest little mice toys with accessories to go with them. Kyte Baby makes sleep sacks made of soft bamboo fabric.
But the options beyond that are endless. Little Cotton Shoppe has toys for every little one—from an old-fashioned wooden telephone to a play vlogger kit (how adorable is that?). And of course, they’ve got lots of space-themed toys being in the Rocket City.
Pay a visit for yourself
Ready for some shopping and lots of “Awwws”? Here’s where you can find Little Cotton Shoppe.
- Location: 964 Airport Rd SW Ste 8, Huntsville, AL 35802
- Hours: Monday-Saturday 10AM-5PM
- Website | Facebook | Instagram
If you can’t make it into the shop, you can also shop their items online!
Black Friday and Small Business Saturday are this weekend, so be sure to check out Little Cotton Shoppe’s social media pages for all the sweet sales they’ll be offering (and look forward to more deals as we get closer to the holidays!).
BONUS: Looking for more kid-friendly content? Here’s some activities for the whole family to check out this holiday season.
Have you ever visited Little Cotton Shoppe? Let us know by tagging us on social media @hvilleblast or by using our hashtag #hvilleblast.