Pawn Plaza: Is Rick Harrison’s Las Vegas Retail Center Going Under? Tenants Speak Up
Is Rick Harrison’s Pawn Plaza on the verge of going under? Probably not. But, even so, tenants are speaking up. Seemingly, some are frustrated to the point of packing up and relocating their businesses elsewhere.
According to Eater Vegas, there’s definitely bad feelings between Harrison and some of the business owners who rent space at his retail shopping center. Within the past few days, Pawn Donut, Smoke’s Poutinerie, and Inna Gadda di Pizza all closed their doors.
The Shutter: Smoke’s Poutinerie flames out at Pawn Plaza after less than a year @pawnplaza https://t.co/DmvZUMPWyq pic.twitter.com/o4fGNhaZCb
— Eater Vegas (@EaterVegas) August 17, 2016
One such tenant, who chose to remain anonymous, spoke to KTNV about his dissatisfaction. The Pawn Stars favorite retaliated by saying that up to 50 percent of all businesses don’t last 12 months. Pawn Plaza opened in October 2015.
The same individual went on to say Rick Harrison didn’t show up for promised bartending appearances and that his rental agreement indicated that the Pawn Plaza owner would advertise for his tenants.
Harrison said this about that.
“I made every single one. I showed up, except when a plane didn’t show up. I am the landlord and I really tried to help promote them. In the end, you have to do your own marketing. When times are good, you advertise; when times are bad, you must advertise.”
On the other hand, Pawn Plaza tenants like Cliff Evarts are sticking up for Harrison and the effort he makes when it comes to those who rent space from him. Evert, who runs Pawn Plaza Vow Renewals by Vegas Weddings, wants the public to know he currently has no plans to vacate the premises.
Even though he admitted to business being slow, he also stated that it wasn’t the fault of the retail center’s owner. In fact, Pawn Plaza Vow Renewals is branching out to sell snack items, in an effort to make extra revenue.
Pawn Plaza has some ups and downs but is coming along https://t.co/ri6XrjVKpg pic.twitter.com/sA5rhhvPVM
— Las Vegas RJ (@reviewjournal) August 23, 2016
Not only that, since Pawn Plaza is in close proximity to the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, Cliff Evarts came up with the idea to create a mock-up of the shop. Couples can choose to pose in front of it if they wish to do so. That brings in a bit of additional cash.
Harrison claimed to have spent somewhere between $50,000 and $70,000, since the plaza opened, on public relations and promotions, and that includes charitable events. Some of the events include a weekend NASCAR social media get-together, a poker event benefiting the Epilepsy Foundation, a car show, and an autograph session with the Pawn Stars crew.
The KTNV report indicated that Las Vegas Flip Flops shut their Pawn Plaza doors last week as well. The anonymous tenant, mentioned above, indicated that he was only getting 30 to 40 customers every day. And, that’s if he was lucky. Apparently, it was a struggle to break the $200 a day mark. Is it really a nightmare for tenants, like KTNV’s 13 Action News proclaimed?
A Pawn Plaza spokesperson made this statement, regarding the recent challenges.
“While we are disappointed to see some of our original tenants leave Pawn Plaza, it is the nature of this business. Tenants will shuffle around to some degree before we settle in with the perfect blend of businesses. We wish all of those departing the best of luck and look forward to announcing our new tenants very shortly.”
Have you ever visited Pawn Plaza or Gold & Silver Pawn Shop? If the answer is yes, what did you think about either or both locations? Before you go, here’s another question to mull over: Do you feel as though Rick Harrison is doing enough for his tenants, or do you think the ones who are leaving expected too much? Feel free to leave your comments about the Pawn Plaza landlord below.
[Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images]
