Pawnshops Now King
from The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram.
Pawnshops are taking in an extra 30 percent to 40 percent in merchandise, in line with nationwide trends in the industry, according to store owners in Maine. They say that with jobs scarce, home-equity loans drying up and credit cards maxed out, people are finding pawn shops an efficient way to get quick cash or take out a loan. More

Pawns Up in Down Times
from The Macomb Journal
Bob McCullough, who owned the Golden Creations jewelry business in Macomb, Ill., for 11 years before opening Pawn Plus eight years ago, views the economy through the lens of his pawnshop. When his business is thriving, people are hurting, McCullough said. One of the modern breed of pawnbrokers who work to improve the image of the trade, McCullough ended 2008 with nearly twice the value of loans on his books than he started the year with. More

NPA Member and His Family Survive Violent Home Invasion in Atlanta Suburb
from WAGA-TV
A Sandy Springs, Ga., pawnshop owner was ambushed, beaten and robbed last week outside his Roswell, Ga., home by gunmen who then tied up the rest of his family before demanding money, police said. Arthur Rappaport, 55, told police that after arriving home from work, he went outside through the garage to walk his dogs. The suspects pistol-whipped Rappaport in the head. More

Secondhand Means a Second Chance
from The Gillette News-Record
Arthur Hodge, owner of Gillette Pawn & Gun in Gillette, Wyo., has heard the act before. "Someone will come in to make a pawn and tell him not to worry about the money. In Hodge's business, it's not just about the stuff. It's about the people. Reading them, listening to them ... are they trustworthy?" More

Police, Council in Mesa, Ariz., Discuss $3 Pawnshop Fee
from The East Valley Tribune
JoAnn Baldenegro isn't pleased about the Mesa City Council's ongoing discussions with the Mesa Police Department that are likely to lead to a $3 transaction fee for every item bought or sold in Mesa pawnshops. But Baldenegro, who owns The Pawn Man, also knows that there isn't much hope that the council will reconsider the idea. More

Americans Turning to Pawnshops for Money
from WFIE-TV
Business at pawnshops is booming, as financially-strapped Americans look for ways to make ends meet. Many customers are first-timers, people who never imagined they'd need to turn their valuables into cash. Cherita Reynolds remembers the first time she walked into a pawnshop. More

Pawnshops Thriving During Tough Times
from KVBC-TV via MSNBC
Many businesses are struggling during these tough economic times, but a lot of pawnshops are actually doing well as many financially-strapped Americans look for ways to make ends meets. Electronics, tools, and guns are common pawnshop items, as well as jewelry. More

High-end Pawnshops Are a League of Their Own
from The Chosun Ilbo
Times when a pawnbroker greeted a customer behind protective metal bars in some dingy store are becoming a thing of the past. The future looks bright for boutique-like pawnshops. Some stores only accept high-end and brand name products as collateral for cash loans. What really sets the swanky pawnshop apart from its older cousins is the professional appraisers who can ferret out knock-offs. More

Pawnshops Becoming Popular Option
from The Shreveport Times
Max's Pawn Shop, which has four locations in the Shreveport-Bossier City area, has felt the ebb and flow of economic tides dating back to 1935. Owner Craig Toys said they have persevered through every one of them, including the current one. More

Mexico's Pawn Culture Kicks in Around the Holidays
from The Los Angeles Times
Ester Ruiz Ramirez, 56, stood in line for hours in downtown Mexico City to hock a ring and some earrings given to her by her children. "I need the money to pay for my grandchild's school fees," she said. Ramitez is one of an expected 800,000 people who will turn to el Nacional Monte de Piedad in January − one of the institution's busiest months − to borrow small amounts of cash against personal items. The money is mostly to cover expenses. More