Entrepreneur Kelli Hull is preparing to open Monkee's of Fair Oaks Ranch on August 20, a move that underscores a trend of reverse migration and retail opportunity in the Texas Hill Country. Hull, a native Texan returning after nearly 20 years in Washington, DC, identified a clear gap in the local market for contemporary women's fashion designers. Her story was featured in a recent episode of the Building Texas Show, hosted by Justin McKenzie and published June 30, 2026.
The episode, recorded in Fair Oaks Ranch just outside San Antonio, delved into the mechanics of launching a franchise boutique in an emerging development. Hull explained why Lemon Creek Ranch, anchored by an H-E-B with I-10 access, won out over other sites in Kendall and Bexar counties. She also detailed the Monkee's franchise process, from completing paperwork on ownamonkeys.com to attending Discovery Day in Winston-Salem with VP of Franchising Pete Greene.
Brand curation will include Paige Denim, Frame, Aviator Nation, Farm Rio, Millie, Shoshanna, and Marie Oliver. Hull also plans to build a military affinity program tied to her husband's role as an Army Reserve officer and her involvement with the Junior League of San Antonio. The store will host private after-hours events and a grand opening gathering for the Junior League's Military Affinity Group.
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, recounting a recent New York trip where she bought 2027 collections at the Farm Rio showroom before her store had even opened. On customer experience, she told 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."
The conversation went deeper on the build-out realities of taking a cold, dark shell in a new development from developer Valcour, which Hull praised alongside Bexar County permitting that turned around in roughly 72 hours. She explained her data-driven buying philosophy shaped by 20 years supporting special operations and Central Intelligence Agency clients through her consulting business, and previewed a Sunday by-appointment personal shopping model aimed at busy traveling professionals.
Store number 8 in Texas and roughly number 67 nationally, Monkee's of Fair Oaks Ranch will fill a void in the region, offering curated contemporary fashion that was previously hard to find locally. The implications for the industry include demonstrating the viability of franchise boutiques in suburban markets, while for the community, it provides a new retail destination and potential job opportunities.
