A Yankee Peddler Pawn Shop Still Going Strong
By Robin Vinci at May 31, 2024 | 3:45 pm | Print
After 22 years, A Yankee Peddler & Pawn is still drawing customers at its Main Street location.
Owner Jason King said in August of 2017 the shop moved a bit down the street to an over 3,000 square foot storefront with another 3,000 square feet in the basement.
“We use that for storage,” King said. “Fall River went out in December or January. I think people think they can open the doors and money will roll in, but that is not the case. You have to work. It’s a job.”
When gold was really high many people wanted to open up pawn shops and similar businesses, but as the gold came down many closed down.
King does buy gold, but he also sells a little bit of everything from jewelry to musical instruments to electronics.
“Guitars are hit or miss. We will have a week where we sell 3 or 4 and then sometimes we can go a month without selling any,” said King. “Tools are a big items. We sell video systems, televisions, computers and cell phones.”
Higher end tools such as gas, cordless or electric are taken. Cheap tools are not needed.
King said he will take a look at anything as long as there is a market for it and he can help people out.
“Gold, coins and higher end watches are always easy to do,” he said. “We see some unique pieces and some collectible pieces that people might not think we would be interested in, but we are.”
King said come in and get a quote as there is no cost to do that.
“The reason we are still here after all these years is the way we treat our customers. We are very flexible with our rates and time periods,” he stated. “If someone calls me and says they are running late and will be in a week from today or a month after due date, that is okay. I want everyone to get their stuff back and be happy. We treat our customers the way we would like to be treated. I think that is important.”
A lot of success, said King, is also from having good employees such as Marco Torres (who has been there for 19 years), Dean Francis (6 years) and Jimmy LaGasse (3 years).
“I’ve worked at a lot of pawn shops in New Britain and this is the best one I have ever seen,” said LaGasse. “You get good and bad customers but you take it with a grain of salt.”
The store is located at 512 Main St. and is open Monday through Fridays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed on Sundays.
