When Kelli Hull moved back to Texas after nearly two decades in Washington, D.C., she discovered a significant gap in the local market: there was no nearby store offering contemporary designer clothing for women in the Hill Country. A blazer, a pair of shoes, or a dress for an evening event required a 45-minute drive into San Antonio. To address this, Hull opened Monkee's of Fair Oaks Ranch, a locally owned, veteran-owned women's boutique in the Lemon Creek Ranch development, serving the Fair Oaks Ranch and Boerne communities.
Hull, a native Texan and Texas A&M University graduate, spent nearly 20 years in government contracting before returning to Texas with her husband, Chris, an Army Reserve officer. After building a house and settling in, she pursued a long-held dream of opening a boutique. 'It was really apparent to me that we had a fairly substantive gap in the market,' Hull said. 'If you wanted to wear contemporary designers, there was nowhere to get it in this area.'
Monkee's is a North Carolina-based franchise of locally owned boutiques known for carrying major contemporary designer brands in small, personal storefronts. Hull first encountered Monkee's eight years ago in Raleigh, North Carolina, and was impressed by its ability to offer such well-known labels in a compact space. The key, she learned, is collective buying power. 'Because we're a franchise, the buying power the franchisees have together is significant,' Hull explained. 'Someone like me - my store wasn't even open yet - could walk into a major showroom in New York and buy for the season ahead.'
Monkee's of Fair Oaks Ranch is store #8 in Texas and approximately #67 nationwide, positioning Hull early in a growing national brand. At just over 1,200 square feet, the boutique offers a curated selection of contemporary designers across various price points, allowing customers to shop from day to night without leaving the Hill Country. The store's website, monkeesoffairoaks.com, provides store information, with online shopping planned for 2027.
For Hull, the boutique is about more than clothing. Having experienced her own struggles with fashion after having children, she aims to boost customers' confidence. 'A lot of women just need someone to say, 'You're beautiful, that looks good on you - but I think we can do even better,'' Hull said. 'When you look good, you feel good, and that projects out. It's my solemn vow that I'll never let anyone leave Monkee's of Fair Oaks Ranch in something that doesn't look phenomenal on them.'
As a veteran-owned business in the San Antonio area, often called Military City USA, Monkee's of Fair Oaks Ranch also plans to support the military community, with more details forthcoming. The boutique is located in the Lemon Creek Ranch development and invites customers to follow on Instagram at @monkeesoffairoaks for the latest brands and event news.
