Monkee’s, a women’s boutique clothing store, announced plans to open two Georgia locations this spring.
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The Atlanta area will see the pair of stores open in the next few months: Monkee’s at Peachtree Battle, at 2353 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 5; and Monkee’s at Avalon, at 4170 Avalon Blvd., in Alpharetta.
Franchisee Elizabeth Huber owns the Peachtree Battle store, a 2,050-square-foot space which will be filled with upscale shoes, clothing, and accessories within the next couple of months.
“My location is in the heart of Buckhead,” Huber said in a phone interview on Wednesday. “Peachtree Battle is a longtime shopping location for Buckhead residents.”
At the same time, fellow franchisee Ally Caldwell is opening the Alpharetta shop, her first Monkee’s brand store.
Monkee’s has a passionate customer base that love the brand, Huber explained, and it should fit well into the Atlanta market.
This is the first Monkee’s shop Huber’s owned, but she’s a longtime customer.
“The whole premise is to make it feel like you’re shopping at home,” she said. “The atmosphere is cheery and happy, which is why I’ve shopped there for so long even though don’t live near a Monkee’s.”
She’s shopped at the Winston-Salem, N.C., location and was inspired to bring the brand to Georgia.
Huber started on this venture just days before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the country. It’s slowed down the process, but she persevered and opening is scheduled for March 26.
Although she doesn’t have experience in the fashion industry, she was in sales before getting married and starting a family many years ago, her daughters are very interested in clothing.
“It’s a fun family venture,” Huber said. “(My daughters) have picked out the brands they like.”
Monkee’s is a corporate franchise based out of Winston Salem, N.C., with 30 stores in 11 states throughout the eastern seaboard, Marketing Manager Jennifer Johnson explained in a phone call with What Now Atlanta. All stores are independently owned and operated.
For Caldwell, she’s been gaining experience in fashion and retail since studying fashion merchandising and apparel design at Georgia Southern University.
“I wanted to pursue my passion for women’s retail, which lead me to the opportunity to open my very own Monkee’s Boutique,” Caldwell wrote in an email shared with What Now Atlanta. “I have been a Monkee’s customer for years, and was always impressed by the personal attention I received while shopping in their stores. This is what drew me back to Monkee’s when considering a new business venture!”
She hopes her customers will feel “exhilarated” at her store at Avalon. It will be fun and welcoming, she added. The location seemed to reflect the same personal community environment customers will experience in the store, she explained.
“For me, the most important aspect of this process was carefully selecting quality brands and styles that appeal to people of all ages,” Caldwell said. “I wanted to ensure the quality of products I sell is the same I would buy myself. Quality is one thing I will never compromise.”
She’s looking forward to building relationships with her customers.
“I want everyone who leaves my store to be happier than when they came, feeling confident and beautiful,” she said.
While this isn’t the first Monkee’s in Georgia, the brand had a store that closed many years ago, company officials are excited to be opening both shops in the area.
“The market is a perfect fit,” Johnson said.
Founder Dee Dee Shaw started the brand in 1995, opening the first store in Wilmington, N.C. Tired of having to travel to New York to shop for her favorite designers, Shaw wanted the designer clothes available locally.
She affectionately named the store after a phrase her mother called her four children, her “bunch of monkeys.”
The brand is known for its “personalized customer service and cutting-edge designer fashion,” according to the website.
“You can come in and leave with a full outfit,” from head to toe, Huber said.
That’s exactly what customers can expect at the new Atlanta locations launching next month.
“I’m very excited,” Huber said. “Women of any age who love to shop, love fashion, and want an enjoyable shopping experience will love Monkee’s.”