At 713 Las Vegas Boulevard South, roughly a mile from Symphony Park, Las Vegas’ most famous pawn shop attracts 1,200 customers and tourists every day. With the Fremont Street Experience on one side and The Strip on the other, the World Famous Gold and Silver Pawn Shop might be overlooked if not for the velvet ropes containing a line of visitors eagerly waiting to enter the building.

The first episode of Pawn Stars aired in July 2009 and quickly catapulted the staff and shop to fame as the History Channel’s record-breaking top show. Just one year later, more than six million viewers tune in Mondays at 10:00pm to watch the four Pawn Stars – Rick Harrison, his father Richard, son Corey, and son’s friend Austin Russell, known as “Chumlee” – barter with customers, exchange banter and sort through obscure and valuable items, from ancient coins to Super Bowl rings.

World Famous Gold and Silver Pawn Shop has been in business downtown since 1988. It recently shared its good fortune with the local community through an eBay charity auction, in which the winner received a trip to Las Vegas to dine, play poker and work for a day with the Pawn Stars. The auction raised $14,667.89, which the shop donated to YMCA of Southern Nevada. 

In July, Rick Harrison was honored as Pawnbroker of the Year by the National Pawnbrokers Association for extraordinary success in raising awareness and improving the image of the pawn industry.

For more information, visit www.gspawn.com.

Photo: Corey, Rick and Richard Harrison (left to right)