A downtown move; Pawnshop settles into new home
Published 10:32 am Monday, November 30, 2015
Jim Tholen, left , and Kim Johnson have moved the Downtown Pawn Shop to 105 E. Oakland Ave., a move they consider to be good for the business. Photos by Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Downtown Pawn recently took a big step.
The local pawn shop, owned by Kim Johnson and Jim Tholen, which was located on 124 Third Avenue has moved to 105 East Oakland Avenue and the move has been a good one.
For starters, Johnson and Tholen now own the building their store is in instead of renting it out, and they also have access to a wider range of customers. Johnson said an estimated 5,500 cars pass by his store per day.
“It’s great. The business is more visible and people see it,” Johnson said, “We see a lot of new people and we still have the old customer base we had before.”
Of the many items the Downtown Pawn Shop has is a room filled with musical items.
The move was also made to give the shop room for more storage and inventory. Downtown Pawn has a wealth of every day items, including musical instruments, gaming systems, vintage games, cell phone accessories and bikes.
“We have a big range of things,” Johnson said. “We have stuff you might not even think of. When you walk around you’ll find something you need.”
Downtown Pawn also offers some rare treasures that collectors may be interested in. The shop has a juke box and a slot machine up for grabs.
Besides having more room for items, Downtown Pawn also has room upstairs for possible affordable housing. Johnson is hoping to get a grant and he said the store could house up to three apartments.
“Affordable housing is definitely a need in town,” Johnson said.
To contact Downtown Pawn, call them at 507-396-2588.
