We never got to visit the Pawn Stars downtown location, but we hear we didn’t miss much. That’s not a negative statement about the show or the shop, but if we’re being honest it was more of a tourist trap that a real destination. The guys on the show are never there. In fact, the television series was filmed away from the actual store. So if you did visit the location, you were not going to see anything juicy.
Still, we loved watching the show for the 20-plus years it ran on History Channel. And it made the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop world famous. Over the years, however, there was suspicion that the show was scripted and that interactions with customers were contrived. Maybe so, but the sad truth is most “reality” shows are no where near as “real” as they appear. If you need to pause here and recover from the shock that’s okay.
The Pawn Stars series featured Rick Harrison, his late father Richard “The Old Man” Harrison who passed away in 2018, Rick’s son Corey Harrison, and their longtime friend Austin “Chumlee” Russell. The series welcomed everyday people hoping to sell unique items, with expert appraisers on hand to evaluate the worth of those items and share fascinating backstories. The show’s success exceeded all expectations.
Yes, what began as a simple reality series turned the cast into household names and brought them wealth they never anticipated. The Gold & Silver Pawn Shop remains a popular Las Vegas attraction to this day, drawing in fans from around the world. In fact, Chumlee took advantage of his fame by launching his own candy store right next door to the pawn shop, riding the wave of the show’s popularity to bring in business.
Though many have tried to replicate the formula, Pawn Stars remains one-of-a-kind… even though we know that some opportunists will probably try knock-off variations of the formula. While some insiders claim the show is just on hiatus, the buzz in Las Vegas suggests it may have quietly wrapped for good. Either way, it was an unforgettable run that left a lasting mark on reality television—and in the hearts of fans everywhere.
