golfkat Travel Blog

Everybody is watching the History Channel’s top rated show, Pawn Stars. The setting is slightly seedy Las Vegas, just south of old downtown, and a bit north of where you NextGen’s hangout on the Strip. As you drive up to the old building, a flagman waves you and your car into an ample parking lot. Everybody is outside taking a photo in front of the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop sign, so often seen on TV. So, walk inside! It is littered with people from everywhere.

The biggest surprise is how small the place really is, and how little merchandise they have for sale, They do have a few motorcycles and an old car towards the back. But easily 1/3 of the space is used to sell their own stuff, like T-shirts!!! Most people are just looking, and there appeared to be very few buyers, and maybe a dozen staff. We did look at some jewelry, but the selection of quality merchandise is quite limited. But I did see Rick’s newly refurbished bright blue Pepsi Cola machine in the back, sitting next to an old Wurlitzer juke box. There are just a handful of items that are

Pawn Stars 007

often seen on their TV show, like the guns, rare books, mostly odds and ends, though the watch case is full of vintage Rolexes and Omegas, along with lots of less expensive watches and junk. I did not see anyone trying to pawn! None of the big boys were around, I guess, since it is Saturday, and the shop is closing at 6pm today for their annual Christmas party. From the looks of the success of their TV show, it should be one heck of a party!!!

Bottom line though, I say kudos for making a rather low brow business a big hit on TV. What else will we see next?