Size 000 at one end of the rack, size 30 at the other. Suzy B’s Formal Boutique keeps that whole spread in stock. It has been selling prom gowns in Joplin since 2008, and the operation has grown into three locations and roughly 15,000 square feet of formalwear. Prom and homecoming live at the Northpark Mall store. Bridal moved to a separate downtown shop on Main Street. A third space, the Annex, sells gowns at flat lower prices.
For families in this part of the four-state corner of southwest Missouri, that scale is the reason to come. Students from Joplin High School, Carl Junction, Webb City, Carthage and Neosho all shop for the same spring dances, and a store with thousands of dresses on hand can absorb that rush without everyone landing on the same three styles.
Homecoming runs through the same store. The online booking menu groups prom and homecoming fittings together, so the fall dance gets the same racks and the same staff as the spring one.
What the prom floor carries
The mall store is built around name designers, and the store’s online catalog lists each one with its own collection page. Sherri Hill sits at the top of the menu, followed by Amarra, Ellie Wilde, Rachel Allan, ASHLEYlauren, Jovani, Ava Presley, Primavera Couture and Portia and Scarlett. There is also a dedicated Plus Size and Curvy Prom section, which fits with that 000-to-30 stock range rather than a few token sizes at the end of a rack.
Prices posted online give a sense of where each label lands. These are from the catalog at the time of writing, and the floor stock changes through the season.
- Sherri Hill
- About $498 to $798
- Amarra
- From $498, with couture pieces up to $4,000
- Ellie Wilde
- About $545 to $629
- Rachel Allan
- About $458 to $698
- ASHLEYlauren
- About $478 to $998
- Ava Presley
- About $355 to $1,460
The store also carries Jovani, Primavera Couture and Portia and Scarlett, each with its own section online. A Sherri Hill gown at a few hundred dollars and an Amarra couture piece in the thousands share the same floor, so the price conversation can start wherever a family needs it to.
Inventory is the promise the store leads with, stated on its homepage with its own capitals and trailing dots.
With over 5,000 gowns in stock, we can ensure that you will find The Ultimate Prom Dress....
That same page adds that Suzy B’s aims for the largest selection at the best prices in the area. With 15,000 square feet across three addresses, the claim has the square footage behind it.
The Annex, the tux counter and the fine print
The Annex is the part of Suzy B’s that budget-minded shoppers should know about, and its rules are firm.
Prices
Three flat tiers: $99, $199 and $299.
Booking
Booked 30-minute slots, one appointment per person.
Arrival
Be on time, because a late start does not extend the slot.
Guests
Leave extras at home, since they cannot pull dresses.
Back-to-back
The second booking is cancelled automatically.
Payment
Cash, Cash App or Venmo, with no credit cards.
For a student shopping on a summer-job budget, the Annex is the route to a formal gown for under $300.
The date is covered at the mall store too.
Northpark Mall
Suits and tuxedos
Rental
Styles include Michael Kors performance suits
Purchase
Options for anyone who would rather own one
Wedding fittings
Booked here as well, so a couple can take care of the dress and the tux in the same building
A few store policies deserve a look before the first visit.
Appointments are highly recommended, and walk-ins are taken based on availability. During prom season, booking online is the surest way to get a fitting room. All sales are final, deposits included, with no returns or exchanges. Layaway is available, with payments due every 30 days. Alterations are not part of the purchase price, and the store does not do them in house, though staff will recommend a local seamstress.
Bridal shoppers book at the downtown location, which takes appointments only. Prom shoppers stay at the mall.
Questions Joplin families ask about Suzy B’s
How large are the sizes on the prom racks?
Stock sizes run from 000 to 30, and the online catalog has a Plus Size and Curvy Prom collection of its own.
What is the least expensive way to buy a gown here?
Book a slot at the Annex, where gowns sell at $99, $199 or $299. Bring cash or have Cash App or Venmo ready.
Can I put a prom dress on layaway?
Yes. The store offers layaway, with a payment due every 30 days. Keep in mind that every sale, deposits included, is final.