Kelli Hull, a native Texan returning after nearly 20 years in Washington, DC, is preparing to open Monkee's of Fair Oaks Ranch on August 20, as highlighted in a recent episode of the Building Texas Show. The episode, titled "She Left DC to Open a Boutique in Fair Oaks Ranch" and hosted by Justin McKenzie, captures a story of reverse migration and retail opportunity. Hull identified a clear gap in the Texas Hill Country market for contemporary women's fashion designers and aims to fill it with her new franchise boutique.
Recorded in Fair Oaks Ranch just outside San Antonio, the episode delves into the mechanics of launching a franchise in an emerging development. Hull explains why Lemon Creek Ranch, anchored by an H-E-B with I-10 access, won out over other Kendall and Bexar County sites. She also discusses the Monkee's franchise process, from ownamonkeys.com paperwork to Discovery Day in Winston-Salem with VP of Franchising Pete Greene. Brand curation includes Paige Denim, Frame, Aviator Nation, Farm Rio, Millie, Shoshanna, and Marie Oliver.
Hull describes 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 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."
The conversation goes deeper on the build-out realities of taking a cold, dark shell in a new development from developer Valcour, which Hull praises alongside Bexar County permitting that turned around in roughly 72 hours. She explains her data-driven buying philosophy shaped by 20 years supporting special operations and Central Intelligence Agency clients through her consulting business, and previews 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 will also host private after-hours events and a grand opening gathering for the Junior League's Military Affinity Group.
Hull also discusses building a military affinity program tied to her Army Reserve officer husband and the Junior League of San Antonio. The episode underscores the importance of community and local market knowledge in retail success. The Building Texas Show, hosted by Justin McKenzie, profiles founders, operators, and community builders shaping business and growth across Texas. Each weekly episode delivers grounded, business owner-style interviews on scaling operations, navigating local markets, and building companies that reflect Texas values. This episode is available now wherever podcasts are heard.
