Long before Amazon.com, during the mid-1970s, Uptown’s International Loans & Jewelers (AKA, a Pawn Shop) billed itself as the home of one million different items. Looking at all the clutter in the windows, you can almost believe it. It’s amazing that anyone could see the merchandise through all those signs. Uptown during this era, had more pawn shops than any other place I have ever seen. It seemed as though there was at least one pawn shop on every commercial block. They were almost as numerous as bars.
