CHUMLEE

Gold & Silver Pawn Shop

Las Vegas, NV

August 11, 2009

Photo credit: Chumlee

We walked in the door to a room full of tough guys. There must’ve been six or seven bouncers, and other bohemoths working the counters. They were all leathered up looking like burly bikers but who knows what is real in this town? This could've just been a day job. Maybe they were dancers down on the strip. (There is something for everyone in this town.) You never know what happens in Vegas, and that’s the way they like it.

I was with some friends at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop where they film the show Pawn Stars. It was pretty clear we’d entered an altered reality—one with Chumlee at the center of its universe. I had never seen the show and didn't know what a Chumlee was, but this shop had placed its bet that he was the one to promote. He was their ace in the hole and they put his face on everything.

I asked an employee, "Whose face is that on your t-shirt?" "Chumlee," he said. "Chumlee?" I asked. “Yeah, he's in the show." He clarified by pointing to the guy at the next counter, “Him.” As I turned to look at this Chumlee, he said, "I get recognized everywhere I go now." "That's cool,” I said. "Not really,” he moaned.

He may not like the fame but that qualifies him to be photographer for my book so I pitched my idea.

“Well this is kinda weird,” he looked at me with a blank stare. “I have this celebrity photo album, It’s just pictures of me taken by celebrities. Will you take my picture?” I asked. He was expressionless which, after watching the show a few times, I learned seems to be pretty standard. He took the camera, snapped a picture, and gave it back. No emotion. No response. That’s okay, I turned my attention back to the first guy.

He gave me a quick tour of the impressive items they have for sale in their shop: a Super Bowl ring, signed original works of art, and Leon Spinks' Heavyweight title belt that he took from Muhammad Ali in 1978.

As it turns out, these Pawn Stars are a family of pawnbrokers. Funny, because I come from a family of deal finders so this was a perfect storm. While I was admiring their jewelry, I was having fun negotiating prices with the boys in black leather. With a playful smile, I said to one, "I've never seen this show (finger quotes) you talk about and frankly, if you guys are on TV this stuff is probably overpriced. Where are the stores with the deals?" He laughed. I'd made a friend.

I’d also brought a friend's wedding ring set to sell if their price was right. Corey, another one of the Pawn Stars, was the buyer. He checked out the rings from all angles then he casually asked “What do you want for it?” “I want to get out of the marriage,” I said, not willing to be the first to name a dollar amount. He offered me $50 to cover the weight of the gold and said, “We don’t pay for the POS diamonds”. These guys weren’t buying the dream that ring companies were selling. Plus, these were seasoned dealers and they were already up to their Harley-Davidson belt buckles in wedding rings.

Every day people pawn their treasures hoping they’ll strike it rich in the casinos, then they plan to return to reclaim their items. But instead, they usually lose, go home, and their stuff ends up being haggled away on a TV show made for the History Channel.

Eventually, I found a diamond pendant that I liked. I bought it and hurried back to Chumlee to get an updated photo showing off my newest acquisition. Chumlee delivered the same vague look as he snapped a second photo.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to talk them down much. The pendant I got was only ten dollars under the asking price, but what can I say? As unique as this place is with its brawny wheeler-dealing shopkeepers it's still Vegas and the house always wins.

Photo credit: Chumlee

We went back a few days later and these guys just happened to be outside. I'm sharing this photo purely to show scale.

Photo credit: My friend