Anyone who grew up on the southeast side knows Southgate, the big shopping center along Northfield and Libby roads in Maple Heights. Ruby's sells prom dresses inside it. The boutique dates back to 2004, when its story started at Randall Park Mall in North Randall, and it later moved to Southgate. Ruby's homepage pitches it as Cleveland's finest dress boutique for prom, formal and bridal, and prom is clearly where the energy goes.
The pitch fits in a sentence. A large, current prom selection, a team that has helped thousands of customers find their dress, and pricing that Ruby's describes as "premium fashion without the premium price." Many styles are in stock and ready to go, which helps when a promposal lands late or a dress plan falls apart in March.
The designers on the floor
Ruby's publishes its brand list, and it overlaps heavily with the labels prom shoppers search for every winter. Highlights from the prom and formal side, lines and collections included:
- Alyce Paris
- Amelia Couture
- Amoris by Cinderella Divine
- Clarisse
- Dave & Johnny
- Elizabeth K
- Faviana
- Johnathan Kayne
- Jovani
- Juliet
- JVN by Jovani
- Ladivine by Cinderella Divine
- Lucci Lu
- Nox Anabel
- Portia & Scarlett
- Primavera
- PS I Love You by Portia & Scarlett
- Sugar Kayne by Johnathan Kayne
- Sydney's Closet
- Tiffany Designs by House of Wu
That is a wide spread on price and style. Girls can compare a statement gown and a simpler, lower-priced style side by side, and nobody in the dressing room has to explain the budget out loud.
The style mix follows what girls are actually asking for. The store's own write-up runs through mermaid and trumpet silhouettes, long sleeves, off-the-shoulder necklines, corset bodices and open backs, in fabrics from glitter and tulle to satin and lace. It also calls out the season's colors, from lilac and pale blue to emerald, rose gold, black, navy, burgundy and champagne.
One tip: browse the Ruby's website before you go. The full catalog is online, sorted by prom, homecoming, formal and quinceañera, with search filters for style and designer. Build a short list on your phone, then try the real thing on in the store. Sizing guides sit on each dress page, and the shop's advice is to measure in the undergarments you plan to wear with the gown. That small step saves a lot of guessing, especially if a style has to be ordered in.
We understand that prom is a truly spectacular event for many of our customers. Therefore, we proudly offer an extensive selection of dresses, ensuring that we bring you the latest styles with options to fit every budget.
That passage sits on Ruby's About page, and it shows where the store puts its priority.
Fit, policies and the small perks
Alterations happen through the shop. Ruby's offers expert alterations for everything it sells, per its site, from a small tweak to a more customized adjustment. For a prom gown, that usually means a hem and a strap or bodice adjustment, and getting it done where you bought the dress saves a second errand.
A few policy details shape the purchase.
In the store
Nothing bought here can be returned, refunded or exchanged, so take your time in the fitting room before deciding.
Website orders
A separate policy, with a short return window for store credit.
Cash back
Create an account and get 5% back on purchases toward a future order, handy for homecoming in the fall and prom in the spring.
Appointments
Not needed to shop, though the store invites shoppers to call and book one.
In the heart of prom season, a booked slot is the easier way to get a stylist's full attention.
Prom is the main event, but Ruby's also stocks homecoming, quinceañera, graduation, pageant and cocktail dresses. A smaller bridal and mother-of-the-bride selection rounds things out.
Southgate sits right where the southeast suburbs meet. Prom-goers from Maple Heights High School are close by, and Garfield Heights High, Bedford High, Warrensville Heights High and Solon High are all in the surrounding suburbs. For families anywhere in northeast Ohio who want to see a lot of current prom styles without a long drive downtown, it's an easy stop.
Shopping Ruby's for prom
Does Ruby's do alterations?
Yes. The store offers alterations on the dresses it sells, from small adjustments to more customized work.
Is a dress from the Southgate store final sale?
It is. Anything bought at the Maple Heights counter can't be returned, refunded or exchanged. Website orders follow a separate policy with a brief window for store credit, so check those terms before you buy online.
Does Ruby's have a rewards program?
Yes. Shoppers who create an account get 5% cash back on purchases to use toward a future order, handy for a homecoming-then-prom year.