Kelli Hull, a native Texan returning after nearly two decades in Washington, D.C., is set to open Monkee's of Fair Oaks Ranch on August 20, filling what she identified as a clear gap in the Texas Hill Country market for contemporary women's fashion designers. The announcement was made on a recent episode of the Building Texas Show, hosted by Justin McKenzie, which explored the mechanics of launching a franchise boutique in an emerging development.
Hull chose Lemon Creek Ranch, anchored by an H-E-B with I-10 access, over other sites in Kendall and Bexar County. The location's strategic advantages and the rapid turnaround time — Bexar County permitting processed in roughly 72 hours — were key factors. Hull praised developer Valcour for their work on the cold, dark shell that will become her store.
The Monkee's franchise process, detailed on the episode, includes steps from ownamonkeys.com paperwork to Discovery Day in Winston-Salem with VP of Franchising Pete Greene. Hull described walking into her first Monkee's in Raleigh eight years ago and being struck by how a 1,200-square-foot boutique could carry major contemporary labels. She credits the franchise's collective buying power for opening doors, recalling a recent New York trip where she bought 2027 collections at the Farm Rio showroom before her store had even opened.
Brand curation will include Paige Denim, Frame, Aviator Nation, Farm Rio, Millie, Shoshanna, and Marie Oliver. Hull is also building a military affinity program tied to her Army Reserve officer husband and the Junior League of San Antonio. On customer experience, she tells McKenzie plainly: 'It is my solemn vow to you that I will never let you leave Monkee's of Fair Oaks in something that doesn't look phenomenal on you. I promise.'
Store number 8 in Texas and roughly number 67 nationally, Monkee's of Fair Oaks will offer a Sunday by-appointment personal shopping model aimed at busy traveling professionals, as well as private after-hours events and a grand opening gathering for the Junior League's Military Affinity Group. Hull's data-driven buying philosophy is shaped by 20 years supporting special operations and Central Intelligence Agency clients through her consulting business.
The episode is available now wherever podcasts are heard, including on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
