Backstory may be one of downtown Palm Springs' newest shops, but it already feels like the kind of place you'll want to return to again and again. Owned by wife-and-wife team Mary Hennesy and Amy Schafer, the boutique is filled with beautifully curated gifts, home décor, locally made finds and plenty of treasures worth treating yourself to. We caught up with Mary to talk about the journey from St. Louis to Palm Springs, what makes Backstory different, and why the desert finally feels like home.

How long have you lived in Coachella Valley?

Since February 2024 but it wasn’t until May 2025 that Palm Springs started to feel like home. We were traveling frequently between Palm Springs and St. Louis because we still owned a store there.

What do you love about life here?

There are several things but for starters, the sunshine and it feels more relaxed here but also with plenty to do and explore. From a travel aspect and to escape the summer heat, we appreciate that we can be in the mountains or on the coast within 1 - 2 hours. Additionally, both of us are drawn to Midcentury Modern architecture, design and history of which Palm Springs is known for. On a personal level, we love that diversity is celebrated here and being a lesbian/queer couple, we feel comfortable and supported.

How would you describe Backstory to someone who’s never seen it?

Almost everyone that enters the store tells us how amazing it smells. That’s a huge compliment and we think it sets the tone for our customer's experience. We’ve thoughtfully curated and merchandised the store with unique, well-made and beautiful items from local, regional and independent brands, most that you won’t find anywhere else in town. Occasionally, we sprinkle in found objects from our travels or that we’ve picked up from one of Palm Springs many vintage markets. We’re the kind of store where you come in for a birthday or hostess gift and are almost always tempted to get a little something for yourself.

And lastly, we love what we do and try to convey that through warm, friendly, attentive customer service in addition to talking (often enthusiastically) about our favorite places to explore in both low and high desert.

When did you open Backstory and what inspired that moment?

We opened Backstory March 12 of this year so we’re brand new to the Palm Springs business community. We were visiting close friends (chosen family) back in 2021 and stopped into a shop called Pilago (now Phylum) in the Uptown Design District and afterwards I told Amy “we could and should open a store in PS”. That thought continued percolating and now here we are and super excited about this new adventure!

What did you do before and how did it lead you here?

Amy and I previously created and owned a larger version of Backstory in St. Louis, MO called Urban Matter for 11 years. We sold that business to a longtime employee/good friend at the end of April 2025. Prior to that, we’ve each had a variety of careers/jobs, a few being in hospitality/event coordinator, hospital administration, funeral director/embalmer (you read that correctly), woodworker and personal assistant. We’re both creative, like design and supporting local makers and early on in our relationship we talked about having a store together. Now we’ve made that dream happen twice!

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