City's First Pawn Shop Opens with Upscale Twist

Philip Manzo must be proud.

His daughter, Alexandra, or Alex Manzo, did something he tried to do 15 years ago and failed.

But times have changed, the economy is different and perception about the business has changed.

What did she do?

Alex opened the city's first pawn shop, , on Park Avenue, about three weeks ago.

Walk in the door and you're greeted with glass display cases containing jewelry, precious metals, coins and electronic devices. A wall is lined with construction tools. Everything is clean and shiny. Aside from the huge safe visible in the back room, there aren't many clues that this is a pawn shop beyond the sign outside on the front of the building.

Manzo said she's wanted to open a pawn shop for years. Her father is Philip Manzo, a well-known jeweler with a . The family has been in the precious metal business for decades and the new pawn shop is a way for her to embrace her family legacy at the same time as she sets sail on her own business venture.

Getting the permits to run the shop from the city required some convincing. Previous efforts by entrepreneurs including her father to open pawn shops in Cranston have failed over the years due to opposition from abutters and concerns by city officials about the potential for attracting criminal and unsavory elements.

But in recent years, thanks in part to the popularity of some pseudo cable TV shows like Pawn Stars and Hardcore Pawn, along with a changing economy, much has been done to change the business' image.

"A lot of people have lost jobs, have trouble paying the bills, putting food on the table," Manzo said. "And a bank isn't going to give you a small cash loan. We're here to help people with the small stuff."

Everyday folk who might have thought ill of the trade now find themselves looking around the house for things to sell to make ends meet.

And the city is hard pressed to turn away anyone wishing to start a new business. The city is still plagued with many vacant storefronts and it will still be a few years before the damage from the economic downturn is undone.

The pawn business is highly regulated. Every item the store buys from someone is documented in precise detail and the information is delivered to the police every day. The Attorney General's office also has a hand in the business, so if a thief tries to pawn stolen items, the shop can be an ally to law enforcement rather than a source of consternation. If you sell them something, you have to show photo ID. That means you can't go to Cranston Pawn Brokers to unload stolen goods fast and easily — unless you want to hand-deliver the contraband and a lead on a suspect.

"It's a very controlled business," she said. 

Besides, Manzo won't buy just anything. Forget about getting $5 for a crusty old toaster, or $20 for a truckload of old lamps. The store isn't going to become a flat screen TV warehouse. Manzo and King intend on using a discriminating eye when choosing which goods to accept. Over time, the shop should include art, antiques and other exclusive items beyond the things you'd expect to find in a pawn shop: watches, jewelry and electronics.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily except Sunday. 

A motorcycle is being given away as part of a raffle for a limited time. Come in and get automatically entered when you pawn an item. 

You can follow Cranston Pawn Brokers on Facebook.

The store's address is 1053 Park Ave. You can call them at 401-944-7296.