A People's Choice Award banner sits near the top of Mary Me's homepage, with a note that the shop has won it five years in a row. The store has been selling formalwear on West Central Avenue in downtown Minot since 2006, and its prom season runs on the same easygoing terms as everything else it does.
Shopping style
Walk-ins welcome, with no appointment needed to meet the team.
Prom sizes in stock
0 through 28.
Paying for it
Layaway options are available.
From reception planning to a dress shop
Owner Mary Keller explains the founding on the shop's team page. She opened the store in 2006 after helping brides plan their wedding receptions, which taught her how much the small details matter to people on a big day. She still spends time on the showroom floor between the business duties. Katie Davis, who joined when she moved back home to Minot in 2009, manages the staff and the floors, and she brings a pageant background to the job. Her bio says she works with brides, grooms, prom and pageant girls, and anyone else who comes through the doors.
The prom page itself is short and to the point. It lists sizes 0 to 28 in stock and a broad mix of styles and colors, simple or bold, neutral or bright.
We carry sizes from 0 to 28, so we truly have something for everyone.
Stock sizes matter more than they might seem. A gown that is already on the rack in your size can go home the same day, and that is a real advantage for a shopper who starts looking in April. Logos on the prom page show the labels the shop works with: Jovani and its JVN line, Alyce Paris, Ava Presley, Colette, Dave & Johnny, Ellie Wilde, Aleta, Portia & Scarlett, Sydney's Closet and Lucci Lu.
Who comes in, and what the dates need
Minot is the shopping town for a wide stretch of northwest North Dakota. Mary Me's prom shoppers come from Minot High School, the new Minot North High School, Bishop Ryan and Our Redeemer's, and from towns farther out such as Kenmare and Bottineau.
The menswear side keeps the couple coordinated.
The tux page
Jim's Formal Wear rentals, or a suit to buy
Rentals
Affordable rates for prom, weddings and black-tie events
Matching
Vests, bow ties and neckties to match a prom date's gown
Measurements
Sent through a form, with calls returned within 24 hours
Bridal is the other half of the store's name, with free bridal appointments and wedding gowns in stock from size 6 to 28.
What Minot shoppers ask Mary Me
Which prom designers does Mary Me show?
The prom page features Jovani, JVN, Alyce Paris, Ava Presley, Colette, Dave & Johnny, Ellie Wilde, Aleta, Portia & Scarlett, Sydney's Closet and Lucci Lu.
Does Mary Me handle tuxes for prom dates too?
Yes. Rentals come through Jim's Formal Wear, suits can be bought outright, and the store has accessories in a range of colors to coordinate with the dress.