About Cathy, the Owner of Rumor Prom and Formal

It Began With an Idea

In 2012, Cathy took her eldest daughter shopping. It was her daughter’s junior year, and the teenager needed a dress to wear for prom. When Cathy realized that most gowns were out of the budget, she decided to design one with her daughter.

Cathy and her daughter didn’t come home empty-handed, however. The doting mother truly enjoyed the time she spent bonding with her daughter while they searched for a dress. That unforgettable experience is the reason behind the creation of Rumor Prom and Formal.

A Fresh Start

Cathy was working at international programs for Upper Iowa University in 2011. After returning home from a work trip to Malaysia in October of the same year, she found herself transitioning into a different position that did not suit her. When shopping for a prom gown for her daughter that following February, Cathy realized the career change she was needing. She loved the bonding experience of searching for a gown and witnessed other parents bonding with their daughters as well. She decided on the spot to open her own prom store. Within four months, she had written a business plan, secured a grant, purchased a building and resigned from the university.

Summer and fall of 2012 was filled with learning renovations, locating wholesalers, attending markets and buying inventory. In January 2013, Rumor Prom and Bridal opened in Fayette, IA.

Rumor moved to a new location in January of 2016 and rebranded as Rumor Prom and Formal. Set in a Victorian home in a relaxed atmosphere, the lovely store is now located in an historic district in downtown Dubuque, the oldest city in Iowa.

Rumor is open seasonally from January to April, Saturday 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. and by appointment. For the remainder of the year, it is transformed and listed as a guesthouse on Airbnb.

A New Location

Rumor moved to a new location in January of 2016. Set in a relaxed atmosphere, the lovely store is now located in an historic district in Downtown Dubuque, the oldest city in Iowa.

Newest Endeavors

No two days are ever the same for this ambitious couple. Hosting furnished rentals began as a business intended to compliment their seasonal prom store and has grown in amazing ways. A plan was made and Brian was able to retire early at the beginning of 2020. Two weeks after notifying the school district, the whole world effectively shut down. Covid brought new challenges for the retail market, but the couple found themselves providing housing to many traveling nurses, alllowing Rumor to emerge out of the pandemic unscathed. At the end of 2023, the couple finds themselves maintaining seven furnished rentals, one commercial rental, and a half dozen traditional rentals. Plans for the next two years include another five furnished rentals, including a houseboat. The couple attributes their success to two things: One, a superpower called ADHD and two, more importantly, seeking daily to be led and discovering God's will in their lives. He's got the best ideas!

A Seasonal Schedule

Rumor is open seasonally, January to April, Saturdays, from 10 AM to 3 PM and by appointment. For the remainder of the year, our store space is transformed and listed as a guesthouse on Airbnb.

Providing an Unforgettable Experience

At Rumor Prom and Formal, we pride ourselves on providing our customers with an in-store experience that they can’t find anywhere else. Our goal is to make your prom dreams come true by making sure you find the perfect dress.

Our granddaughter loves to help!