A visit to Pawn Stars ground zero

MANILA, Philippines - When the night descends upon Las Vegas, the city gets even brighter. Lit with miles and miles of neon lights, the streets are abuzz with tourists, winos, bums and hawkers handing out cards with photos of scantily-clad lady escorts.

On a nippy night, we head downtown on Las Vegas Blvd. and drive away from the themed hotels, casinos and tourists. Past numerous gaudy wedding chapels and near the East Bonneville Ave., we spy our destination and pull into the parking lot beside it. A large red and white “Pawn Shop Open 24 Hours” tries to sear into the gloom. It’s not a particularly attractive sign, just a run-of-the-mill, almost obligatory move to declare the business within. But to its right is an acetate, backlit rectangle that depicts four unsmiling gentlemen who, if you didn’t know better, look like mobsters.

Welcome to Pawn Stars ground zero. The immensely popular History program is shot right here at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawnshop, which some 4,000 devotees and curiosity seekers visit daily.

If by chance you haven’t heard of it yet, Pawn Stars documents the adventures of three generations of the Harrisons who own and run the establishment. Former Navy man Richard “Old Man” Harrison relocated his family from San Diego, California when the real estate business went belly up and cost him a million dollars. “My wife and I decided that we would move to Vegas to start a new business. At that time, it was the land of opportunity for small business owners,” he had shared with The STAR in an e-mail interview. Indeed, the $10,000 initial investment soon turned into a multi-million-dollar business.

Old Man’s son Rick (who was trained from age 13) became a partner when he turned 23. Rick is an expert of big-ticket items, and can spot fake or fenced items. In turn, Rick’s son Corey “Big Hoss” started his training at age nine, and today is expertly trained in the art of appraisal, with the “brawn to back it up.” Big Hoss also handles human resources and eBay transactions.

Finally, not a member of the family, but might as well be is the rotund Chumlee, who was so named by his elementary schoolmates after a cartoon walrus. Corey’s best friend, he’s frequently the butt of jokes. He takes it all in stride, telling The STAR: “I don’t get even with them. They are my bosses at the end of the day. I just wanna keep my job.”

We pushed through the Gold & Silver Pawnshop’s doors at around 10 in the evening, but a good number of people milled about the brightly-lit establishment. On the left was a counter upon which stood a cash register. Above the clerk behind it was a huge sign warning visitors not to take photos in that direction.

On either side of the narrow shop are glass counters that should be familiar to Pawn Star aficionados. Displayed within are some of the now-famous items that people have sold or pawned to the Harrisons over the years.

In one of the counters are a number of rings — including a Superbowl championship ring — when the New England Patriots came from behind to upend the St. Louis Rams. “No you can’t touch it or wear it,” a small laminated sign declares. Under that is the price the aforementioned piece of sports history — a cool $100,000.

An assorted collection of items — from the outrageous to the downright morbid — fills up the establishment. Each tells a story of, well, humanity and inhumanity; culture and chaos; genius and foolishness.

The Harrisons seemingly know that the show (now six seasons old) and the shop have become one inseparable entity. Beside many curios in the shop, such as a mean-looking African “beheading sword,” pieces of paper are scribbled with the words “As Seen On Pawn Stars.”

Ensconced in another counter is a collection of antique handguns. You could take home a non-functioning 1879 Smith & Wesson pistol for $2,000, or a Remington New Model Army for $4,000.

Cory had shared: “We have more interesting items coming in than ever before. We have a heck of a lot of fans streaming through the door every day, too. The shop has become a Vegas tourist destination.”

Indeed, the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawnshop has become much more than what it was intended to be. Like my wife Joyce, cousin John, and I, this is a veritable citadel for the History show’s fans. And there’s a lot of stuff for us as well.

Many shelves within the shop have been appropriated for Pawn Stars-branded merchandise such as shirts, caps, blankets, hoodies and refrigerator magnets. If you so desire, you can head home with an Old Man bobblehead or Chum Lee cap in hand. There’s even a Facebook “fan interaction” kiosk, which allows you to take your photo within the premises and upload that onto your account.

Before heading out into the surprisingly chilly Las Vegas night, we speak with the man at the door. He says the Harrisons still do come to the shop aside daily, and flashes a smile as he holds the door open. Too bad we didn’t catch the surly-looking yet riotously funny bunch this time, but we sure wouldn’t pawn or trade our visit to this iconic pawnshop for the world.

Pawn Stars airs Mondays, 10 p.m., on History.