Kelli Hull is trading the corridors of power in Washington, DC for the racks of contemporary fashion in Fair Oaks Ranch. In a recent episode of the Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie interviewed Hull as she prepares to open Monkee's of Fair Oaks Ranch on August 20. The story underscores a broader trend of reverse migration, as a native Texan returns after nearly two decades to fill a perceived gap in the local retail market.
Hull identified a clear opportunity: the Texas Hill Country lacked a destination for contemporary women's fashion designers. She zeroed in on Lemon Creek Ranch, a new development anchored by an H-E-B grocery store with direct access to Interstate 10. The site beat out other locations in Kendall and Bexar counties due to its high traffic and growing residential base. The Monkee's franchise model attracted Hull because of its collective buying power, which allows small boutiques to carry major labels like Paige Denim, Frame, Aviator Nation, Farm Rio, Millie, Shoshanna, and Marie Oliver. Hull described walking into her first Monkee's in Raleigh eight years ago and being impressed by how a 1,200-square-foot store could stock such brands.
The franchise process, detailed on ownamonkeys.com, included a Discovery Day in Winston-Salem with VP of Franchising Pete Greene. Hull's background supporting special operations and CIA clients through her consulting business informs her data-driven buying approach. She already attended a New York buying trip for 2027 collections at the Farm Rio showroom, before her store officially opens. On customer experience, Hull told McKenzie: '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 boutique will offer a Sunday by-appointment personal shopping model targeting busy traveling professionals. Hull is also building 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, number 8 in Texas and roughly number 67 nationally, will host private after-hours events and a grand opening for the Junior League's Military Affinity Group. The build-out process, praised developer Valcour and Bexar County permitting, which turned around in roughly 72 hours, transforming a cold, dark shell into a retail space.
The episode of the Building Texas Show is available now on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Hull's story exemplifies how returning Texans are leveraging their outside experience and local knowledge to create new retail opportunities in growing communities.
