Pawn shops seeing an increase in customers amid coronavirus pandemic

ST.JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- As businesses across America struggle to serve their customers during the coronavirus pandemic, pawn shops are seeing an increase in business.

Jeff Durrell, the owner of McKinley Pawn in Mishawaka said they’re busy four of the five day a week that they are open. Ever since the distribution of the first stimulus checks, he’s noticed slight increase in foot track.

Durrell has been the owner of McKinley Pawn for 15 years. He recently saw an increase in people coming back into the store to pick up stuff they had previously pawned for money.

They’ve also sold more merchandise in the last few weeks as well. Durrell said the most popular item being electronics such as TV’s and gaming systems.

“Game systems are going out the door, musical instruments right now, TV’s," Durrell said. “Anything that involves being stuck at home and keeping yourselves entertained, I’m probably out of it.”

Since the pandemic the store hours have changed. McKinley Pawn is opened Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The store is closed on Sunday and Monday.