Johnny T-shirt/Chapel Thrill Escapes/Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership

For more than a century, this building has mirrored the town’s changing face—first as a grand theater, then a fashion hub, a video arcade, and now, a hub of all things Carolina Blue.

This building originally opened as a theater in 1915 by Samuel J. Brockwell. Serving as the Pickwick Theatre’s third location on Franklin Street, it was one of the largest in the state, seating up to 750 patrons.^[1] By 1931, the theatre was experiencing the brunt of the Great Depression (less patrons meant less revenue) and had to close its doors.^[2]

In 1935, Brockwell leased the theater to North Carolina Theater’s Inc and it reopened as “The Pick” with a new marquee and lobby.^[3] Here, patrons could watch motion pictures and listen to live music. The venue was so popular that there was hardly an open seat on the weekends. During this time, the theatre also served as the town’s courthouse. In 1946, just eleven years after its reopening, the theatre closed for good.

The lot sat vacant for five years until J.B. Robbins, a Chapel Hill businessman, opened the House of Fashion Store. This was an upscale department store, where students and townspeople alike could buy clothes.^[4]

The influx of new businesses and the growing population brought a wave of commercial development that began to alter the landscape. The department store closed in the late 1960s and was replaced with the Mad Hatter’s Restaurant by 1978.^[5] It later became Star Trax Video Games.^[6]

In 1983, Franklin Centre was created, which reflects the structure that visitors see on Franklin Street today. Rather than one building, the Centre had an entryway that leads to several shops. In its initial stages, it housed Scruples Beauty Salon, Gold Connection, Take One Barber, Anjanas, and Johnny T-Shirt.^[7]

Founded by Charles (Chuck) Helpingstine, Johnny T-Shirt quickly became a must-visit spot for students, parents, and alumni. Specializing in UNC merchandise, the store offers  apparel, souvenirs, and memorabilia that allows customers to proudly display their Tar Heel pride. Whether it was the iconic Carolina blue shirts, the “I Love UNC” slogans, or the mascot-themed gear, Johnny T-Shirt became synonymous with the spirit of Chapel Hill and the university itself.

Johnny T-Shirt remains a symbol of what makes Chapel Hill special—a place where the past and the present coexist harmoniously. As it continues to serve generations of Tar Heels, the legacy of 128 East Franklin Street remains intertwined with the ever-evolving story of Chapel Hill, a place where history, culture, and community thrive in harmony. Today, conversations about the future of this building are common though it remains uncertain.

^[1]“The Pickwick Theatre” RootsWeb, accessed February 2025 https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~orangecountync/history/places/Pickwick/pickwick.html

^[2] Ibid

^[3]“128 EAST FRANKLIN ST. / PICKWICK THEATRE (THIRD LOCATION) / J. B. ROBBINS / FRANKLIN CENTRE” OpenOrange, accessed February 2025, https://openorangenc.org/buildings/128-east-franklin-st-pickwick-theatre-third-location-j-b-robbins-franklin-centre

^[4] Bernard L. Bryant, Occupants and Structures of Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina at 5-year intervals, 1793-1998 (Chapel Hill: Chapel Hill Historical Society, 1999), 140.

^[5] Ibid, 166.

^[6] Ibid, 171.

^[7] Ibid, 179.