A prom gown search in this part of the Kanawha Valley does not have to start with the interstate. Nandel's, which also goes by Nandel's Bridal Boutique, sits on Roosevelt Boulevard in Eleanor, the small Kanawha River town in Putnam County, southwestern West Virginia. Owner Carla Flynn runs the shop, which lists more than twenty years of experience in the retail market. The store states that it carries many top designer bridal and prom gowns, and the shop's web address names both.
The appeal is scale, in the good sense. This is a small-town shop with a trained staff, an appointment book, and time for one-on-one help even in April. Shoppers who have been through the door describe being greeted right away and helped by staff who seemed to know what they wanted, and one customer review on the store's homepage recommends Nandel's "for all your prom and bridal needs."
What to expect on a prom visit
Booking ahead is the smart move. The shop runs an online appointment form, and certain weekdays are set aside for appointments only, while the later part of the week opens to regular shopping. A booked slot means a stylist and a fitting room are yours for the visit, which helps when you are bringing a parent and a friend or two.
Stella Couture is one of the lines the site features, and the store describes it as a designer of prom and special occasion dresses with modern, flattering silhouettes. Beyond that, the floor changes with each season's orders, so a quick question when you book about what is in your size will save a wasted try-on. Small shops like this one tend to reward the early shopper, since a single size run can sell through before spring break.
Your date is covered too
Jim's Formal Wear and Geno's Formal Affair
Service
Tuxedo rentals through both formalwear lines
Gown and tux
Sorted out with the same people
Who comes in
Eleanor sits close to all four Putnam County public high schools: Buffalo, Poca, Winfield and Hurricane. Families from Nitro and St. Albans across the line in Kanawha County are not far either. For many of them, a stop on Roosevelt Boulevard is simpler than a trip into Charleston traffic, and the shop's size keeps a fitting from feeling rushed.
Prom is not the only formal on the calendar, either. The welcome note on the homepage invites shoppers to let Nandel's make "your wedding or formal dreams come true," and on a high school calendar "formal" means homecoming and winter dances as well as spring prom. A customer note on the same page recommends the shop for any formal attire a family may need.
Weddings are the shop's other line of work, with a seasonal sample sale on bridal gowns, but in spring the fitting rooms belong to prom. The homepage sums up the approach in a single sentence.
Our trained staff will skillfully help you select your perfect gown for your perfect occasion.
Prom at Nandel's in Eleanor
Does Nandel's handle tuxedos for prom dates?
Yes. Tuxedo rentals come through Jim's Formal Wear and Geno's Formal Affair, both offered at Nandel's.
Which prom label does the site feature?
Stella Couture, which the store presents as a prom and special occasion designer. Ask about current stock in your size when you book.