The building came from somewhere else. Fredericktown’s railroad depot was taken apart in the 1980s, moved to a roadside site on US 36 between Coshocton and Newcomerstown, and set among retired railcars and a caboose. The complex became Unusual Junction, with a restaurant in the old station.
The dress store is the part of it that draws teenagers from three states. Universe was founded in 1997 by Teri (McKenna) Misener, who was running a wedding catering business from the same property. By its own account, her first ten bridal gowns hung in a converted railroad car. It now fills the property with prom, homecoming, quinceañera, bridal and bridesmaids departments, and the store describes itself as one of the largest in east central Ohio, serving Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania.
The drive
From I-77, take the US 36 exit and head west about seven miles. The store sits directly on the highway across from Raven’s Glenn Winery, roughly ten minutes east of Coshocton and Roscoe Village. Coming from Columbus, it is 161 east through Newark to Coshocton, then US 36 east.
Ridgewood High School is in the village itself, on Johnson Street — the only high school in the Ridgewood Local district, orange and black, Inter-Valley Conference. River View in Warsaw and Coshocton High School are the county’s other two public high schools, and the Coshocton County Career Center pulls its students mostly from those three. For a Ridgewood junior, the prom dress store is a few minutes from the school parking lot. For a girl coming from Wheeling or Cambridge or Zanesville, it is a planned trip, which is why the appointment rules matter.
Book before you drive
Universe is open seven days a week but by appointment only, in every department, including dress pickups. Calling ahead is not a courtesy here; without an appointment there is no guarantee of a fitting room. Appointments are booked by phone, email, or private message on Facebook or Instagram.
- Appointments run two hours.
- Prom and homecoming shoppers may bring two guests. Brides may bring four.
- Bridal and bridesmaids appointments are scheduled on separate days.
- No food, candy or drinks in the prom and bridal departments.
- The store asks that children be left with someone else when possible, and that strollers and car seats go in designated areas when the floor is busy.
How the shopping actually works
This is a self-serve floor, and the store says so bluntly: shoppers walk the racks and pick what they want to try, staff will pull dresses on request, and guests are allowed to help in the fitting room. Anyone expecting to sit while a consultant brings a curated handful and dresses them is in the wrong store. There is a stage with full mirrors and seating for the two guests.
Prom and homecoming stock runs sizes 000 to 34, with plus sizes as a real part of the buy rather than an afterthought. The brands verified on their manufacturers’ own retailer lists are Jovani, Alyce Paris, Amarra, Ava Presley, Clarisse, Dave & Johnny and Faviana; the store’s own prom catalog also lists Primavera, Ellie Wilde, JVN, Morilee, Portia & Scarlet and Sydney’s Closet. Prom styles listed on its site fall mostly between roughly $490 and $1,100. Bridal gowns are listed from about $800 to $2,999.
Two things to know before you pay
All sales are final. No refunds, no exchanges, no cancellations, and no deposit back once a layaway or build-to-order is started — even if a different dress turns up somewhere else. Layaway is available with a monthly payment.
Alterations are not done in-house. The store expects most dresses to need some work and sends shoppers to a local seamstress, with the standing advice to bring the exact shoes to that fitting so the hem is cut to the right length. Tuxedo rentals were discontinued, so a date’s suit has to come from elsewhere.