The Midnight Rambler // Alfred Spellman

Pawnshop respectability surged when the economy faltered, noted the National Pawnbrokers Association’s Murphy. He says pawnshops serve the middle class who were cut off from credit, as well as the millions of Americans who don’t bank and have no checking or savings accounts. Murphy says pawnshops also reported during the downturn that restaurant owners were trading in jewelry to make their payroll.