If you’ve lived around Kansas City long enough, chances are Nell Hill’s has played a part in your story. The scent of candles, the clinking of vintage glassware, the bustle of women carrying shopping bags brimming with possibility. And at the center of it all was Mary Carol Garrity, the woman who made classic, comfortable style feel both accessible and aspirational.
“I was just doing my own little thing in Atchison, Kansas,” she recalls with a laugh. “A few girlfriends convinced me to do the Junior League Holiday Mart. That was the turning point. We had great prices, lots of stuff, and a whole lot of fun. That show really launched my business.”
From that moment, Nell Hill’s became a phenomenon. Women would pile into cars, grab their coffee, and make the drive to Atchison to spend the day. “They’d come up, shop all morning, have lunch, and head back in time for school pickup,” Mary Carol says. “Our store would be empty by three o’clock.”
Over time, Nell Hill’s expanded into multiple buildings, each with its own character. There was Garrity’s for furniture, G. Dieibolt’s for bedding and fabrics, and the original Nell Hill’s for seasonal treasures. Eventually, Mary Carol and her husband decided to bring it all closer to Kansas City, opening the Briarcliff location that would become a landmark for local design lovers.
“I’ve always been kind of a one-store operator,” she admits. “By the time we opened Briarcliff, it was a lot. I worked seven days a week for years. So when the opportunity came to sell it to a fabulous young woman who’s done an amazing job with it, I knew it was time.”
After decades in retail, Mary Carol finally exhaled. She enjoyed her well-earned rest, at least for a while. But as any creative knows, the itch never really goes away. The spark for her latest venture, Diebolt’s, came from a familiar source: friendship.
Diebolt’s is quaint and small, just 300 square feet plus a porch, but that’s part of its charm. It’s only open on Fridays and Saturdays, which keeps the pace relaxed and joyful. “It’s an old retail lady dipping her toe back in the water,” Mary Carol jokes. “Half the people who come in are returning customers, and the other half are new. It’s like a little party every weekend.”
The partnership works beautifully, and Mary Carol credits Rebecca as “the boss.” “She’s the brains behind the operation,” she says. “Rebecca handles the ordering and bookkeeping. I just come in and play store.”
The two share an eye for design and a background steeped in retail. Rebecca grew up helping in her mother’s stationery shop in Jefferson City and going to market with her mother, while Mary Carol’s own parents ran a clothing store. They met years ago at a Junior League show when Rebecca had a stationery booth. “I was drawn to her taste right away,” Mary Carol recalls. “She’s younger, full of energy, and has such great instincts. We just clicked.”
Their shared style is distinctly traditional but never stuffy. “We love mixing vintage and antique pieces without it feeling ‘grandma’,” Mary Carol explains. “We both live in smaller homes, so everything has to be beautiful and functional. We’re sentimental, too. Worn rugs, tablecloths, little pieces that mean something.”
At Diebolt’s, half of the store’s inventory is vintage, the rest new. They focus on entertaining, so think silver, glassware, table linens, and things that make gathering around a table feel special. “Diebolt’s is really more of a nod to the old Atchison store,” she says. “It’s smaller, more intimate, and completely different from Briarcliff. And it fits perfectly with what’s happening in Kansas City right now, with so many small, specialty shops popping up all over the city. It adds a lot of charm to the town.”
Mary Carol’s personal home mirrors her shop’s philosophy: layered, welcoming, and effortlessly elegant. “When someone walks in, I just want them to feel welcomed,” she says. “That’s the goal. Nothing too perfect. Just warm and comfortable.”
She and her husband now live in a small cottage after downsizing, and the smaller space suits her style perfectly. “I love it all, but if I had to pick a favorite room, it’s my kitchen, and I don’t even cook!” she laughs. Her home is filled with pieces from Nell Hill’s days: furniture, textiles, dishes, and a mix of cherished finds from over the years. “You just edit and choose what works,” she says. “Everything has to earn its place.”
For the holidays, Mary Carol takes a simplified approach. “I usually decorate after Thanksgiving. I hate decorating the tree,” she admits. “Now, I cheat and I put a four-foot tree in an urn on my desk, and from outside it looks huge. It’s perfect!”
She loves the nostalgia of unpacking old ornaments, but New Year’s is her favorite holiday. “It’s about reconnecting with friends, catching up, and just being together. That’s what I love most.”
Ask Mary Carol for festive design advice, and she’ll tell you to start with heart—and a little greenery. “Good greens and ribbon can make anything beautiful,” she says. “But beyond that, invest in art and lighting. They give a home its warmth.”
She also believes in using what you have. “We always tell people to get your grandmother’s china out, mix it up, use it. Don’t save the good stuff. Enjoy it.” It’s the same philosophy that’s made her stores and her life so magnetic. An invitation to live beautifully, not just decorate beautifully.
Looking back, Mary Carol says her proudest accomplishment isn’t the business itself but the people it brought into her life. “Almost all my friendships have come through the store,” she says softly. “That’s what I cherish most.”
As for what’s next? She smiles. “Whatever Rebecca dreams up! I’ll just be along for the ride.” You can shop with Mary Carol and Rebecca at Diebolt’s, located in the Gillham House Antiques in Midtown on Fridays and Saturdays.