Some prom traditions in Calhoun County go back further than anyone's grandmother. The Quality Shoppe opened on the square in historic downtown Jacksonville in 1935, and by the store's account it is the longest continuously operating business in the city. Ownership has changed hands only once, in 1979, when the current owners bought it from the founders. That means a lot of local families have bought formal wear from the same family for more than one generation.
Prom shoppers get the simplest path in the door, and the homepage is clear about who needs to book.
No appointment necessary
Walk in after school and start pulling dresses
- Prom, social occasion and pageant shoppers
- Anyone renting or buying a single tuxedo or suit
Appointments requested
Bridal
- Measuring larger wedding parties
The prom collections
The website's Prom Collections menu is a solid list for a downtown shop:
- Alyce Paris
- Both Alyce Paris Prom and the Alyce Paris Exclusive Collection, plus Alyce Paris Homecoming for the fall dance.
- Faviana
- Faviana prom and a separate Faviana Plus Size Prom collection. Featured Faviana styles on the homepage have been listed from the mid $300s to the high $500s.
- Portia and Scarlett
- Featured styles have been listed at $379 and $439.
- Ellie Wilde and Morilee
- Ellie Wilde and Morilee Prom round out the formal racks, along with PS I Love You.
There is also a dedicated Plus Size Bridal, Prom, and Social Occasion category, and a clearance section to check before you commit to full price. The website lets you filter for in-store stock and search by size, so you can check what is physically on the racks from home. If you live outside Jacksonville, run that in-store filter first; it can save you a wasted trip.
Homecoming gets its own attention. Alyce Paris Homecoming is listed as a separate collection, so a fall shopper is not stuck sorting through floor-length prom gowns to find something short. Social occasion styles from Alyce Paris fill the gap for banquets, formals and dances that fall between homecoming and prom, which is handy in a college town where the formal calendar runs all year.
The store sums up its approach in one sentence on its homepage:
We are proud to be a family-owned business where exceptional gowns, elegant tuxedos, and outstanding service are our hallmarks.
Tuxedos and pageant gowns on the square
The tuxedo side is a real department, not an afterthought, with a wide selection of styles and colors, according to the store.
Tuxedos on the square
Rental prices starting in the high $100s
Colors
Classic black notch-collar jackets to gray, navy, tan and white
Slim fit
An ultra-slim tuxedo and suit collection
Labels listed
Michael Kors, Ike Behar, Kenneth Cole, Stephen Geoffrey, Mark of Distinction, Allure Men and Lord West
A couple can settle the gown and the tux together, and the rental package splits this way.
Typically included
- Coat and pants
- A standard pleat-front shirt
- Vest and tie
For an added charge
- Shoes
- Other extras
Pageant families will find girls' pageant dresses from Tiffany Princess. The store's own pitch for that line: go for the crown. Listed styles have run from under $300 to just under $700.
The testimonials the Quality Shoppe posts keep coming back to the same theme. One longtime Jacksonville customer wrote that the staff is "willing to work with you with any budget or time-frame," and another mentioned buying several dresses while her brother rented three tuxedos. The picture is of a store that outfits whole families.
Who shops the square
Jacksonville High School is the hometown prom, and Pleasant Valley High School families are close by. Piedmont, Alexandria, Weaver, White Plains and Oxford students round out the Calhoun County list, and Jacksonville State University keeps the town full of students who need formal wear for events beyond high school prom. Parking on the square and walking into a store that has been there since 1935 is part of the experience. For more shops across this part of the state, see the northeast Alabama prom guide.
Bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses claim their own share of the racks on the square, but bridal runs by appointment. Prom is the walk-in side of the store, and that is the side most high school shoppers will see.
Plus sizes, tuxes and a storefront from 1935
How long has The Quality Shoppe been on the square?
Since 1935. Ownership has changed hands only once, in 1979, when the current owners bought the store from its founders.
Is there a separate plus-size prom rack at the Quality Shoppe?
Yes. It has a Faviana Plus Size Prom collection and a separate plus-size category covering prom, bridal and social occasion.
What comes in a tux rental package here?
Tuxedos and suits can be rented or purchased, and rental packages typically include the coat, pants, shirt, vest and tie.