When Kelli Hull moved back to Texas after almost two decades in Washington, D.C., she encountered a problem familiar to many Hill Country women: there was no nearby source 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 address this gap, Hull opened Monkee's of Fair Oaks Ranch, a locally owned, veteran-owned women's boutique now serving Fair Oaks Ranch and Boerne from the Lemon Creek Ranch development.
Hull, a native Texan and Texas A&M University graduate, spent nearly 20 years in government contracting in Washington, D.C., advising private companies on business with the special operations and intelligence communities. About a year ago, she and her husband, Chris, an Army Reserve officer, moved back to Texas. After building a house and sending a child to college, Hull traded her weekly commute to D.C. for a life fully rooted in the Hill Country and decided to pursue her bucket-list career path.
Monkee's is a North Carolina-based franchise of locally owned women's boutiques known for carrying major contemporary designers 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 stock such well-known brands. The key, she learned, is collective buying power. “Because we're a franchise, the buying power the franchisees have together is significant,” Hull said. “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. Without that, none of this would be possible.”
Monkee's of Fair Oaks Ranch is store #8 in Texas and approximately #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, carrying contemporary designers across a range of price points so customers can shop from day to night without leaving the Hill Country.
For Hull, the store is about more than clothes. Having navigated her own struggles with finding the right outfit, including after having children, she wants every customer to leave feeling confident. “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—Military City USA—the boutique also plans to support the military community, with more details to come.
Monkee's of Fair Oaks Ranch 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, arrivals, and event news, with additional updates on Facebook and TikTok. The store's website, monkeesoffairoaks.com, offers store information, with online shopping planned to launch in 2027.
