New ‘Arrogantly Shabby’ merchandise has arrived at Get Carried Away in Pawleys Island

Two words have long summed up Pawleys Island: “Arrogantly Shabby.”

Now both visitors and residents of Pawleys Island have a new way to showcase that philosophy via newly debuted merchandise from Get Carried Away Southern Market and Takeout. The longtime Pawleys business – owned by Pawleys Island Mayor Brian Henry and his wife, Sassy – is now offering a new line of “Arrogantly Shabby” merchandise.

Hats, T-shirts, belts and keychains with “Arrogantly Shabby” designs are now available at Get Carried Away’s Pawleys Island location, and Brian says there’s more apparel on the way. The items that have debuted in 2026 are only the beginning.

“In 2027 we plan to offer a full line of apparel,” he said. “The new merchandise will include long-sleeve beach shirts, flip-flops, ladies apparel, and more.”

Although Get Carried Away now has locations in Georgetown and Mount Pleasant, the Pawleys Island apparel line will be available exclusively at its Pawleys Island store at 10126 Ocean Highway.

It could be said that the Henrys have become synonymous with Pawleys Island, which consistently gets ranked as South Carolina’s best beach.

Not only is Brian the mayor of the historic town, but he and Sassy also own the Sea View Inn, one of only two inns on the historic island. They also produce what could easily be described as Pawleys Island’s most famous export: Palmetto Cheese, Sassy’s own distinctive and scrumptious version of the one of the South’s most popular dishes: pimento cheese.

Palmetto Cheese is not only sold at Get Carried Away, but it’s also sold in more than 10,000 stores, such as Kroger, Costco, Walmart and many more, across America.

It shouldn’t be a surprise, then, that the Henrys are now producing an apparels line for Pawleys Island’s most iconic slogan.

“Each item will feature images that uniquely identify Pawleys Island with the Arrogantly Shabby tagline,” Brian said. “They will be of the highest quality, not your typical souvenir trinkets.”

The term “arrogantly shabby” was first coined to describe the laid-back atmosphere of Pawleys Island, where there are no stop lights, no gas stations, and no grocery stores on the three-mile-long barrier island. You can find all those things – and more – on the mainland of Pawleys Island, but other than the two commercial inns, the historic island is devoid of commercial entities.

Only about 100 residents call Pawleys Island home full-time, but visitors have come to its shores for generations, and today the population booms from spring until winter when travelers rent from the two inns and the myriad vacation homes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean or the Pawleys Island creek.

Pawleys Island offers that one-of-a-kind enchanting experience that can be found nowhere else. Pawleys Island has been attracting vacationers since the 1700s when plantation owners would move their families, livestock and workers over to the island from the mainland to escape mosquitoes during summer months.

Mark A. Stevens, director of tourism development for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce, said the new Arrogantly Shabby merchandise is a great way to promote Pawleys Island.

“Brian and Sassy Henry have found yet another perfect way to pay homage to the history and legacy of Pawleys Island,” Stevens said. “Get Carried Away not only has all of the essentials for visitors to create delicious meals while they are on vacation, but now they have this unique attire to go along with it. And I love everything about it.”

How it all began

Brian and Sassy Henry moved their young family from Atlanta to Pawleys Island in 2002 to become innkeepers and eventually proprietors of Sea View Inn. Although they were familiar with hosting parties in Atlanta, this new venture involved entertaining on a whole new level. They were basically hosting a beach house party every day of the season for 40 guests each time. It was successful and they have expanded into two other successful business ventures: Palmetto Cheese and Get Carried Away. 

Get Carried Away has become a mainstay for locals and vacationers looking for prepared foods that can be enjoyed on the beach, on the river, on the dock, or right at home. It has expanded its footprint several times to accommodate new business and a growing customer base. A store in Mount Pleasant opened in January 2024 and a third location in Georgetown opened in October 2024.

Making Palmetto Cheese and more

While the Henrys were serving Lowcountry boils, they had an epiphany. The meal featured appetizers, including a crowd favorite pimento cheese recipe Sassy formulated in the 1990s.

In 2007, the Henrys began producing what they called Palmetto Cheese for a few local outlets. While the first batches were produced at the Sea View Inn, the first production facility for Palmetto Cheese was at the current location of Get Carried Away in Pawleys Island. Every container of Palmetto Cheese, whether it’s for sale locally or in Texas, Tennessee, New York and many other states, proudly notes that it’s a product of Pawleys Island.

In fact, the Henrys boast that Palmetto Cheese has become the No. 1 cheese spread in America.

After the commercial production of Palmetto Cheese was moved to a new and bigger location, the Pawleys Island facility began producing casseroles, dips, spreads, sweet and savory pies, seafood, and many other local favorites that are still best sellers today.

In addition to making it easier for locals and vacationers to enjoy prepared meals, they wanted to share some of the Lowcountry dishes that had become a mainstay at Sea View Inn: crab divine, squash casserole, collard greens, and seafood pie. Many of these items and more can now be purchased at Get Carried Away.

But now the Henrys are happily also promoting the Arrogantly Shabby apparel line. It will, no doubt, find the same success as their other business ventures, all with a tie back to that one special place: Pawleys Island.

For more information about Get Carried Away, click here. For more information about Palmetto Cheese, click here. For more information about Sea View Inn, click here.

By Clayton Stairs / tourism manager for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce