Honest Pawn Shops with Character

**Enduro** · February-14-10, 01:31 PM

One of my favorite new shows on History is Pawn Stars and after reading about all the closed westside bars, specifically the Kress, closing and their belongs going to auction I thought it might be cool to stroll the aisles of some of the local pawn shops that might have some bizarre or rare items [[doesn't have to be bar related) that were obtained legally. Can anyone suggest such a business?

**SCS_Scooter** · February-14-10, 04:28 PM

When my home was broken in to back in April, I went to 22 pawn shops across the metro area looking for my stolen items. None of the shops were like the one on the History Channel that you referred to. They all reminded me of someone's garage sale. Every single person I spoke to was "interesting" in their own way and most helpful but no one had the nifty inventory like on TV. I didn't go to Al's or Zeidman's...maybe they are closer to what the show "Pawn Stars" is like. [[I did find American Jewelry and Loan on Greenfield the best for people watching!)

**Enduro** · February-14-10, 04:39 PM

Sorry to hear about the break-in. Did you have any success after all that legwork?

I got the same kind of vibe the one time I went to a pawn shop [[I hit the two on Gratiot just east of the Market one day). A lot of used TVs and jewelry... I'm kind of a geek so it was cool to sift through some of the older electronics but nothing moved me to open my wallet. Now that I'm in Oak Park I was thinking of going to the new place in Southfield but I'm not too keen on their recent press.

**Django** · February-14-10, 04:46 PM

There is two on the North side of Michigan Ave near I-75. The one closest to Trumbull definitely has character and is worth poking around. The old guys that run it have character as well.
You might want to check that antique dealer on I-75 service just West of Grand River I believe. Near Cass Tech.

**SCS_Scooter** · February-14-10, 04:52 PM

I am very happy to say I DID solve my own case and am awaiting my pension paperwork from my local PD.

The guy got 6 months in jail [[this was his 6th felony) and I only got back 5 rings. The rest is, as Ernie Harwell would say, "Lonnnng gone."
I love perusing thru the shops and they do have some wonderful prices on jewlery. Who cares if a diamond is "used"?

LodgeDodger · February-14-10, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Enduro

One of my favorite new shows on History is Pawn Stars and after reading about all the closed westside bars, specifically the Kress, closing and their belongs going to auction I thought it might be cool to stroll the aisles of some of the local pawn shops that might have some bizarre or rare items [[doesn't have to be bar related) that were obtained legally. Can anyone suggest such a business?

In addition to pawn shops, how about checking out some architectural salvage places? They always have interesting items.

http://www.aswdetroit.org/

Also, check out Fred's Unique on Eight Mile. Always a fun stop...

http://www.fredsfurniture.com/

**Patrick** · February-14-10, 05:29 PM

I always thought the guys at Ron's Pawn Shop on Gratiot were a little shady, but I guess you have to be when dealing with so many different types of people.

**Enduro** · February-14-10, 08:20 PM

Thanks for the tips, I'll check those places out. I don't have much interest in jewelry beyond belt buckles so those sound like some good choices. I'd always wondered if that antique shop was open to the public, it looked like a place for builders and construction types. I've seen Fred post some cool stuff on craigslist before too.

Scooter, glad you managed to find some of your valuables and help protect some of our property at the same time [[for 6 months at least).

**sumas** · February-16-10, 07:03 AM

For household goods and rehabing The Restore shop is great. As for Pawn shops when my money gets funny we used to hock my husbands guitar at a place in Warren on Vandyke. Tried Zeidmans once but that place gave me the creeps.

Got tired of worrying about redeeming the guitar so just gave it to our son. Simpler!

**mauser** · February-16-10, 07:09 AM

M E G A P A W N !

**Zacha341** · February-16-10, 09:24 AM

Hah! Zeidman's downtown can be more like that pawn shop in Pulp Fiction at times, though I did not see the "gimp" there! Creepy crawly... LOL! Actually the one up on Woodward was more scarry... the one with the big shoot out last summer!

Originally Posted by SCS_Scooter

When my home was broken in to back in April, I went to 22 pawn shops across the metro area looking for my stolen items. None of the shops were like the one on the History Channel that you referred to. They all reminded me of someone's garage sale. Every single person I spoke to was "interesting" in their own way and most helpful but no one had the nifty inventory like on TV. I didn't go to Al's or Zeidman's...maybe they are closer to what the show "Pawn Stars" is like. [[I did find American Jewelry and Loan on Greenfield the best for people watching!)

**Zacha341** · February-16-10, 09:30 AM

Yeah, I've held my nose, worn sunglasses [[just joking) and gone in a purchased some of my best unique gold items from shops like Zeidman's who has/ had a good layaway plan. I have seen the cops in there checking thing out so that makes it seem a bit above board withstanding that whole MonCon Southfield, palm greasing scenario re. Zeidmans etc. coming to court theaters early March.

Originally Posted by SCS_Scooter

...I love perusing thru the shops and they do have some wonderful prices on jewlery. Who cares if a diamond is "used"?

**Zacha341** · February-16-10, 09:36 AM

The Zeidman's in Southfield is much more polished and clean [[outwardly) than the one on Gratiot. They ONLY sale/ pawn jewelry... No chain saws, guitars, air conditioners, bikes, flat screens or dvd players. For the brik-a-brack catch-all pawns there's that big scary pawn place on eight mile and and Greenfield [[can't recall the name). But you sorta feel like you need to be "armed" to go in there, for sure the shop keepers are!!

Originally Posted by Enduro

Sorry to hear about the break-in. Did you have any success after all that legwork?

I got the same kind of vibe the one time I went to a pawn shop [[I hit the two on Gratiot just east of the Market one day). A lot of used TVs and jewelry... I'm kind of a geek so it was cool to sift through some of the older electronics but nothing moved me to open my wallet. Now that I'm in Oak Park I was thinking of going to the new place in Southfield but I'm not too keen on their recent press.

**Zacha341** · February-16-10, 09:40 AM

I was between jobs, a few years back -- working only part-time and had to pawn some jewelry back and forth at the Z's as it is called. It is incredible what you see and here. But the clerks can be nice, and knowledgeable and they respect when you are too. Especially re. electronic stuff which is terribly marked up at pawns, unless you know prices and can talk them down!

The whole pawn industry tripled in Detroit and tri-county due in part to the casinos. You'd hear people talking about what they lost at the tables or slots. Lots of long faces or the arrogant "whatever" types in line pawning their stuff. Some of which may be hot [[stolen), though the Z does finger print and you must have ID to put in or remove items.

Originally Posted by Patrick

I always thought the guys at Ron's Pawn Shop on Gratiot were a little shady, but I guess you have to be when dealing with so many different types of people.

**CountrySquire** · February-16-10, 10:06 AM

Check out the Barbershop Exchange in Garden City. You will love it! He has a nice collection of stuff for sale, and he is a real barber shop too. All the buy / sell / pawn activity will stop so he can administer a walk in client a haircut.

**Zacha341** · February-16-10, 10:14 AM

Oh that's funny. Beauty shops were known to be clearing houses for home cooked items brought in by the "cake woman", or the "fake" designer purse "man" on and on... LOL!

Originally Posted by CountrySquire

Check out the Barbershop Exchange in Garden City. You will love it! He has a nice collection of stuff for sale, and he is a real barber shop too. All the buy / sell / pawn activity will stop so he can administer a walk in client a haircut.

**Detroitnerd** · February-16-10, 10:16 AM

I like Bim's.

**Zacha341** · February-16-10, 11:08 AM

Where are they located?

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

I like Bim's.

**Detroitnerd** · February-16-10, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

Where are they located?

Bim's Jewelry & Loan is a small pawn shop that seems to have lots of musical instruments. Family owned.

5676 West Fort Street
Detroit, MI 48209-3155
[[313) 843-7113
gobims.com

**DetroitTeacher** · February-16-10, 11:56 AM

Are you talking about Junque Shop Antiques? If so, they are on the SOUTH side of Michigan east of Lonyo at Central. They are not the shop closest to Trumbull. One of the old guys is my dad

. They aren't a pawn shop, they are an antique shop but they do have lots of neat items in there [[and some architectural stuff, as well). They are two retired DFD and will be quite honest with anyone walking in. They love to chit chat [[the real reason behind opening the store).

Originally Posted by Django

There is two on the North side of Michigan Ave near I-75. The one closest to Trumbull definitely has character and is worth poking around. The old guys that run it have character as well.
You might want to check that antique dealer on I-75 service just West of Grand River I believe. Near Cass Tech.

**SCS_Scooter** · February-16-10, 12:47 PM

Was that your Dad and his Pal featured on DetroitBlog last year? Been meaning to take a look-see!

**Cincinnati_Kid** · February-16-10, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

The Zeidman's in Southfield is much more polished and clean [[outwardly) than the one on Gratiot. They ONLY sale/ pawn jewelry... No chain saws, guitars, air conditioners, bikes, flat screens or dvd players. For the brik-a-brack catch-all pawns there's that big scary pawn place on eight mile and and Greenfield [[can't recall the name). But you sorta feel like you need to be "armed" to go in there, for sure the shop keepers are!!

That would be American Jewelry and Loan LOL

**sigs** · February-16-10, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by Cincinnati_Kid

That would be American Jewelry and Loan LOL

American Jewelry & Loan on 8 & Greenfield is ENORMOUS, but not scary or dangerous in the least. This pawn shop has a much greater selection of items than most and their service is definately better. I go there frequently and the employees there really take care of me. Also I heard that a new reality TV show is being filmed there.

**Django** · February-17-10, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitTeacher

Are you talking about Junque Shop Antiques? If so, they are on the SOUTH side of Michigan east of Lonyo at Central. They are not the shop closest to Trumbull. One of the old guys is my dad

. They aren't a pawn shop, they are an antique shop but they do have lots of neat items in there [[and some architectural stuff, as well). They are two retired DFD and will be quite honest with anyone walking in. They love to chit chat [[the real reason behind opening the store).

No, the shops Im talking about are on the North side of Michigan. One has a bunch of pics of Danny Divito framed on the wall while he was in Detroit shooting the movie Hoffa, but I cant remember any scenes in the movie that resemble the inside of that pawn so I assume it wound up on the cutting floor. Ill be looking forward to checking out Junque Shop Antiques, hard to believe I havent been there.