“We are definitely seeing more suburban customers coming in than we have in the past,” Goldstein said, noting a shift in the store’s typical clientele. He says he’s also seeing more women than men using pawn services.

Rather than selling items outright, many customers are opting for short-term loans, using their valuables as collateral and returning later to reclaim them. According to Goldstein, about 90% of customers buy back their items.

“These customers are working,” he explained. “They just have too much week left at the end of their paycheck. Then a bill comes up, and they need a way to bridge that gap.”

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