Gesinee's runs two stores in downtown Concord, and prom has one of its own. Gesinee's 2350, the prom store at 2350 Willow Pass Road, holds the prom, party and pageant dresses, the quinceañera gowns and the tuxedos. Wedding gowns stay at the bridal salon. The homepage puts prom first in its pitch.
We are the Place For Prom, Gala and Pageant Dresses. We are the largest California Prom and Special Occasion Shop.
Gesinee's 2350 and the bridal salon
The About page describes Gesinee's as a family owned business serving the Bay Area from the heart of downtown Concord. It names Concord, Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill as home turf, with the wider Bay Area beyond. The motto on that page is "Where the client comes first."
Splitting the floors keeps each one focused. Prom shoppers walk into a store built around formal dances, with the date's tuxedo in the same building. The bridal salon handles gowns, bridesmaids and mothers' dresses, and books bridal appointments by phone.
Prom
Gesinee's 2350
- Prom, party and pageant dresses
- Quinceañera gowns
- Tuxedo rentals through Jim's Formal Wear
Bridal
The bridal salon
- Wedding gowns and veils
- Bridesmaids and mothers' dresses
Willow Pass Road runs east to west through the old center of town, and Concord High, Ygnacio Valley and Clayton Valley Charter are all a short drive out. For more shops in the region, see our East Bay and Northern California prom guide.
Walk in Tuesday through Saturday
Both stores keep the same hours. They are closed Sunday and Monday. Tuesday and Thursday run 10 to 7, and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday run 10 to 6. The site footer says appointments or walk-ins are available on open days and that wait times vary, so a Saturday in spring may mean a wait for a stylist.
Walk-ins get a loud welcome at homecoming time too. The store's homecoming announcement ends with "Walk-ins are always welcome!" The two late nights are the easiest fit for a school schedule.
The homepage suggests building a wish list on the website before you come in. Do it, and note the style numbers. The site also warns that not every dress shown online is in the store to try on.
Sherri Hill, Jovani and a size search to 32W
The prom menu breaks the floor into labels. Sherri Hill and Jovani lead, with Jovani split into prom, homecoming and short cocktail sections. La Femme has prom and cocktail pages, and Primavera Couture has its own evenings line next to the prom one. Alyce Paris, Ellie Wilde, Jasz Couture, Portia & Scarlett and Scala evening gowns fill out the bigger names. Chandalier, Colors Dress, Lucci Lu, Nina Canacci and Stella Couture round out the list.
The site says Gesinee's has thousands of dresses available off the rack, and the prom listings flag styles as either "In Stock!" or "Quick Delivery!" so you can tell what might be in the building before you visit.
Sizing is wide. The prom size search, which can also be set to show in-store stock, runs from 000 through 32, with a women's run from 14W to 32W and letter sizes from XXS to 2XL. The About page mentions curvy sizes too.
Prom size search
00 to 32
- 00
- 0
- 2
- 4
- 6
- 8
- 10
- 12
- 14
- 16
- 18
- 20
- 22
- 24
- 26
- 28
- 30
- 32
Sizes 000 through 32, plus 14W to 32W and XXS to 2XL. A common rack stops near 16, shown by the dashes.
Website prices, store prices and fakes
The online sales policy explains a detail most shoppers never see spelled out. The prices on the Gesinee's website are the designers' suggested retail prices, because the designers it carries don't allow their styles to be shown online below that number. The prices in the store, it adds, are not necessarily the same as the ones on the website.
The same policy turns that rule into a warning. If another website shows a lower price for the exact same style from the same designer, Gesinee's says you can know for certain that site is selling counterfeit dresses. That claim is the store's, but the advice behind it is sound. A price far below what an authorized retailer shows is a reason to stop and check.
Tuxedos, quince gowns and the Alterations Center
The prom store handles the date's look as well. Gesinee's works with Jim's Formal Wear for tuxedo rentals, with the stated aim that every customer looks their best at the event. Quinceañera gowns hang in the same building, from House of Wu, its Fiesta line, Vizcaya and Princesa.
For your date
Tuxedo rental
Partner
Jim's Formal Wear
Where
Gesinee's 2350, the prom store
Alterations are done by the store's Alterations Center, which the site says has an expert staff of seamstresses, fitters and designers. That page is written for brides, so ask about prom hem and fitting timing when you buy, especially for a late April or May dance.
Gesinee's 2350, quick answers
Which Gesinee's store sells prom dresses?
Gesinee's 2350, the prom store on Willow Pass Road. It also has the party and pageant dresses, quinceañera gowns and tuxedo rentals. The bridal salon is a separate store.
Is Gesinee's open on Sunday or Monday?
No. Both stores are closed Sunday and Monday, and open Tuesday through Saturday from 10, until 7 on Tuesday and Thursday.
Why might a dress cost less in the store than on the website?
The website shows each designer's suggested retail price, and the store says its in-store prices are not necessarily the same.
Can I try on every dress I see on the Gesinee's website?
Some may not be there. The site warns that some styles shown online are not in the store, so check the "In Stock!" tags or call with the style number.