SAN ANTONIO -- Quite a few people believe pawn shops are where thieves can fence stolen merchandise for some quick cash.
But, if the walls could talk at Bill's Pawn and Jewelry, they would probably never shut up.
"It's always something new," says manager Frank Camacho.
Camacho, owners Shirley Gonzales, and Lady Eloise are all relatives who run a family-owned pawn show.The employees are the supporting cast.
Frank's been working at Bill's since he was 13 years old. "I've seen a little bit of everything," he says.
Shirley's parents took over this business 50 years ago. For her, this place in the 100 block of South Zarzamora represents economics and emotions.
"Growing up in the family business is, well mostly you feel like the stepchildren. You don't get paid much attention to. Your parents are always working--always running the business,' says Shirley.
Eloise is the heart and soul of the pawn shop. She can work a room, respect a customer, and mean business in one breath. -"There's a lot of ways to say, 'No'. That's the key," she says.
Pawn shops provide secured loans in return for merchandise. They lend based on product value and customer loyalty. You usually get, at least, a quarter of what the merchandise is worth.
Behind every tool, musical instrument, or video game there's a story. Sometimes good---most often, they are ones of survival.
"They have needs---and most of the time it's they need money. We get all walks of life. We get them from upper class to lower class," says Frank.
At Bill's 60 to 65 percent of those who pawn items come back to get it. They've seen generations of many families come in for their services.
"It's a friendly. It's a friend. From friend to friend. Like I tell my customers, you help me and I help you," Eloise explains.
At least one customer agrees. He bought a weed whacker 15 years ago and has not stopped coming back.
Pawn shops reportedly have the reputation of buying stolen goods. But the folks at Bill's say they go to training classes offered by police to prevent that from happening.
Plus, everyone who pawns has to hand over a copy of their I.D. Every item from those transactions are dumped into a database where the authorities can access it. if police find stolen property at a pawn shop the business hands it over and takes the loss. During recent rough economic times, pawn shops saw their business surge because people needed quick cash to survive.
The real steal can come in some of the treasures that walk into the store, like a precious stone Bill's took in and sold 20 years ago for a huge profit.
"Well, past $10,000, so it was great," Frank recalls with a smile.
But, those are rare. So, are family-owned pawn shops.
This one continues to thrive day-by-day, one transaction at a time.
