Monica Marie Boutique, a women's clothing shop that started in Fulshear, will open a new Katy storefront at 10 a.m. Oct. 16 at The Gathering Grounds, 1512 Avenue C, Building C.

Owner Monica Hughes-Hamill is marking the occasion with giveaways. The first 20 customers who spend at least $125 will receive grand opening swag bags, and the boutique will hand out branded T-shirts throughout the day, My Neighborhood News reported.

"After so much dreaming, praying, planning, building (and a whole lot of pink)… Monica Marie Boutique is officially opening our doors!" Hughes-Hamill said in announcing the event.

The boutique carries dresses, tops, rompers, coordinated sets, bottoms and denim, along with shoes, jewelry, gifts, stationery, and beauty and hair accessories. Hughes-Hamill also stocks devotionals and prayer cards, reflecting a faith-centered identity she has built into the brand.

She said she picks inventory with everyday routines in mind, choosing pieces that work for school drop-off, Sunday services, date nights and girls' trips. Hughes-Hamill has described fashion as something she loves not for the clothes alone but for the confidence the right outfit can give someone.

The Gathering Grounds location is the boutique's second spot in the Katy area. Monica Marie Boutique also operates inside Collective Boutiques at 6729 S. Fry Road, Suite D6, in the former Painted Tree space.

The Gathering Grounds is a community space that houses Humble Grounds Coffeehouse and hosts local businesses and events. The property also offers a coffee shop with pastries, fresh florals, holistic skincare, pickleball courts and an event venue, according to its social media pages.

Adding a standalone storefront there gives Hughes-Hamill a dedicated space to display merchandise and welcome walk-in shoppers alongside the coffee-and-community traffic the venue already draws.

For Katy-area residents looking for a locally owned alternative to big-box retail, the opening adds another independent shop to the mix. More information is available at shopmonicamarie.com.