Monkee's Expands in Texas: Veteran-Owned Boutique Fills Gap in Hill Country Fashion Market

When Kelli Hull moved back to Texas after nearly two decades in Washington, D.C., she encountered a problem familiar to many Hill Country women: a lack of nearby options for contemporary designer clothing. A blazer, a pair of shoes, or a dress for an evening event required a 45-minute drive into San Antonio to La Cantera or a specialty boutique like Julian Gold. To address this gap, Hull opened Monkee's of Fair Oaks Ranch, a locally owned, veteran-owned women's boutique in the Lemon Creek Ranch development serving Fair Oaks Ranch and Boerne communities.

Hull, a native Texan who grew up across the state and graduated from Texas A&M University, spent nearly 20 years in government contracting in Washington, D.C., advising private companies on doing business with special operations and intelligence communities. After marrying her husband Chris, an Army Reserve officer, the family moved back to Texas about a year ago. Hull eventually traded her weekly commute to D.C. for a life fully rooted in the Hill Country, fulfilling a bucket-list career path by opening the boutique.

Monkee's is a North Carolina-based franchise of locally owned women's boutiques known for carrying big contemporary designer names in small, personal neighborhood storefronts. Hull discovered her first Monkee's eight years ago in Raleigh, North Carolina, and was impressed by how a boutique of that size could carry such well-known brands. The key is collective buying power: as a franchise, Monkee's franchisees pool their purchasing power to access major showrooms in New York. Hull noted that even before her store opened, she could buy for the season ahead. Monkee's of Fair Oaks Ranch is store #8 in Texas and roughly #67 nationwide, placing Hull early in a growing national brand.

At just over 1,200 square feet, the boutique reflects the franchise's signature small footprint and curated, personal approach. It carries contemporary designers across a wide range of price points, allowing customers to shop from day to night without leaving the Hill Country. For Hull, the store is about more than clothes; having navigated her own fashion challenges after having children, she wants every customer to leave feeling confident. She emphasizes a personal touch, vowing never to let anyone leave in something that doesn't look phenomenal on them.

As a veteran-owned business in the San Antonio area—known as Military City USA—Monkee's of Fair Oaks Ranch also plans to support the military community, with more details to come. The boutique is located in the Lemon Creek Ranch development near Fair Oaks Ranch and Boerne. Customers can follow on Instagram at @monkeesoffairoaks for the latest brands and events, with additional updates on Facebook and TikTok. The store's website, monkeesoffairoaks.com, offers store information, with online shopping planned to launch in 2027.