Pawn wars play out in Woonsocket

December 11, 2012

WOONSOCKET — The History Channel better look out — its Pawn Stars reality show may be getting some competition from a real life pawnshop drama playing out in this town.
Call it Pawn Wars.
The battle kicked into high gear again yesterday after Fall River-based Spindle City Pawnbrokers upped the ante in its bid to secure a Main Street pawnbrokers license.
When word leaked out that the company intends to attempt an end-run around the City Council, which shot down Spindle City’s application last week, Danny Baldelli, the operator of the only existing pawn shop in town for many years, parked a big box truck on Main Street plastered with several large, bright signs proclaiming, “No more pawn shops.”
“It’s not about the competition,” insists Baldelli, proprietor of the Gold Loan Company.

Read more in our print edition.