A women’s clothing store in Wilmington is celebrating 30 years in business.
Founded in Wilmington, Monkee’s initially started as a shoe boutique.
However, the name Monkee’s is not a reference to the pop rock band, The Monkees.
Deedee Shaw, the founder and president of Monkee’s Franchising, said she named the store after the phrase her mother used to call her four children ― her “bunch of monkeys.”
Monkee’s is located at 1900 Eastwood Road, Suite 22, in Lumina Station.
Over the past three decades, Monkee’s has remained dedicated to offering an exceptional shopping experience, building strong relationships with customers, and supporting female entrepreneurs in the retail industry, Shaw said.
Brenda Maready, a loyal customer of Shaw, fell in love with the Monkee’s brand and decided that Winston-Salem needed a Monkee’s.
“They signed an agreement over a cocktail napkin for Brenda to open the second location,” Shaw said.
The store has evolved from a shoe boutique to clothing, accessories, home goods and more alongside its franchise status.
“As I reflect on the past three decades of Monkee’s, I can genuinely say it has been a true love affair,” Shaw said. “The name was inspired by my mother, the concept of franchising by my husband, and my business partner and I have always prioritized the collective success of our organization with a shared philosophy of ‘we agree to agree.'”
Monkee’s carries high end women’s shoes, clothing and accessories, offering the best in fashion and elevating the Monkee’s experience, Shaw said.
“As a wise person once said, ‘When you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.’ That has certainly been true for us. Looking ahead, we are excited to continue growing the brand and expanding our footprint across the nation,” Shaw said.
Cheryl M. Whitaker covers community news for the StarNews. Reach her at cheryl.whitaker@starnewsonline.com.
