The Shrunken Head
What started as a beachside shop has grown into a Franklin Street icon that is known for its bold personality, signature UNC gear, and deep-rooted connection to the Chapel Hill community. Although the origin of the name Shrunken Head remains a mystery, there’s never been any doubt about the Hendersons’ unwavering devotion to the town they’ve served for generations.
Since the building was constructed in 1927, 155 E Franklin Street has been home to an array of shops and services. Pritchard-Patterson Clothing was the first occupant, holding the space from 1928 to 1932. Ledbetter-Pickard Stationery, a partnership between Herbert Ledbetter and Clarence “Doc” Pickard, moved in for the next eight years before moving one door over to 157 E Franklin Street. Then, in 1940, Thomas Phillip Lloyd opened the Carolina Pharmacy in the vacant space. Campus Laundry & Cleaners was the final occupant before Shrunken Head, occupying the space from 1958 to 1969.1
Since 1969, Shrunken Head has been a staple of the Chapel Hill community, providing a range of apparel for Tar Heel fans and Chapel Hill Memorabilia.
Although the family-owned business has thrived in Chapel Hill for decades, the store first opened in Jacksonville, NC – a small beach town home to the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River. Mary Edna and Shelton Henderson sold a wide range of items at their shop, including bathing suits, Levi's jeans, and a small section of Chapel Hill merchandise.2
The store’s unique name is a piece of Henderson family lore that remains a mystery to this day. One story states that Henderson was known as an accomplished salesman and put out word that his store needed a name. The name “Shrunken Head” was suggested because he was always “shrinking the marines’ heads” to get them to buy more. The name also aptly matched his own initials, SH.
From friends and family modeling for catalogs to a history of dressing UNC students, particularly the cheerleaders and marching Tar Heels, Shrunken Head has a long history of connecting with the Chapel Hill community. Shelton Henderson even coined and patented the phrase “how sweet it is to be a Tar Heel.” Although no one in the Henderson family has ever gone to UNC, they are dear members of the Chapel Hill community who are always advocating for and supporting their hometown.
Melissa Pate, the Hendersons’ granddaughter, and Matt Pate now run Shrunken Head, keeping the store’s legacy in the family. Shrunken Head underwent a full renovation after a devastating flood in 2022, so the store looks a bit different than Shelton Henderson’s original shop. In early 2025, the Pates opened an additional store on 161 E Franklin Street, just a few doors down from Shrunken Head. The new store, Tailgate, specializes in UNC and Tar Heels merchandise. The expansion allowed Shrunken Head to go back to its roots and emulate Henderson’s original store by restructuring as a Chapel Hill gift shop.
Then vs Now
Endnotes
1. Bernard L.Bryant, Occupants and Structures of Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina at 5-year intervals, 1793-1998, Chapel Hill Historical Society, 1999, 116-164.
2. “About SHB and Tailgate,” https://shrunkenhead.com/pages/about-shb.
Bibliography
“About SHB and Tailgate.” https://shrunkenhead.com/pages/about-shb.
Bryant, Bernard Lee. Occupants and Structures of Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina at 5-year intervals, 1793-1998. Chapel Hill Historical Society, 1999.
Kutschinski, Abigail. Personal interview with Melissa Pate. March 21, 2025.