The Museum of Pawn--Scottsdale AZ

It looks like a pawnshop…that is, until you pull into the rear parking lot and see “Museum of Pawn” printed in big, bold red letters on the window. It certainly does NOT look like a pawnshop in the back parking lot, which is graced with a big old dinosaur and replicas of Greek statues lining the entranceway. It really does not look like a normal pawnshop when you walk in the back door…and are greeted by Josh, a “friendly” cowboy, whose recorded voice tells you all about the Museum and the standard “if you break it, you own it” line while his head automatically, and somewhat creepily, turns to follow you as you walk by. Then, as you walk by a series of motorcycles, you look up and notice the stuffed animal heads on the walls, ending with a buffalo head topped rather jauntily by a baseball cap. The ceilings are covered with paintings and prints. This really appealed to me since I have been trying to talk my husband, Keith, into hanging a truly hideous three-panel painting of Laguna Beach that I mistakenly bought at an auction on our living room ceiling. I fell in love with the Museum of Pawn.

If you are looking for a weird place to visit if you are in the Phoenix area, this is it. Inside, you will find museum quality antiquities such as an ancient Egyptian Mummy funerary figure from 664 BC just an aisle over from a full-sized growling stuffed tiger. There are hand-carved antelope antlers sitting on top of what appear to be a case full of closeout turquoise jewelry. A Capidomonte lamp with an exquisite silk shade shares the shelf with a weight scale from the 1920’s. Towards the front of the store, there are guitars, an old tuba, vhs tapes, amplifiers, and old violins. Any one of these things can actually go home with you if you have the money and the desire.

The Museum of Pawn sells not only through their store, but on eBay as well. You can also purchase directly from them online. They add new items pretty frequently; we asked the price of the weight scale and were told that it had just been put out and whoever did it forgot to price it. In other words, “who knows?” They are open Monday through Friday from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. and Saturdays from 9 A. M. to 4 P.M. Their address is 3116 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale. Stop in when you are in town. It is a jaw dropper.

For links to the Museum of Pawn, visit:

Museum of Pawn

Museum of Pawn Brochure

For more information on antiques and collectibles:

Antiques and Collectibles