Les Gold's American Jewelry And Loan: Who Owns It Now?

Leslie Les Gold is a third-generation pawnbroker and media personality, widely known for his appearance on the reality TV show, Hardcore Pawn. Gold opened his own pawn shop, American Jewelry and Loan, in 1978, and it has since become one of the largest and most recognisable pawn shops in the world. The shop is now located in an expansive showroom of more than 50,000 square feet in Detroit, where Les still works alongside his son, Seth, who is a co-owner.

Les Gold is alive and well

Despite rumours to the contrary, Les Gold is alive and well. Gold is a third-generation pawnbroker and the owner of American Jewelry and Loan in Detroit, Michigan, which he opened in 1978. The pawn shop is one of the largest in the world and served as the backdrop for the successful reality TV show, Hardcore Pawn, which Gold starred in alongside his children, Ashley and Seth, who are co-owners of the business.

Gold's first experience as a salesman was at his grandfather's pawnshop, Sam's Loans, at the age of seven. He opened his own store with the support of his wife, Lili, and moved American Jewelry and Loan to its current location in 1993. The business now operates at multiple sites, employs hundreds of staff, and serves thousands of customers.

Gold is a self-proclaimed street-level economist and has written a book, For What It's Worth, in which he shares business secrets from his years of experience. He is also a dedicated charity fundraiser, regularly organising events for a Detroit charity called The Heat And Warmth Fund ('THAW').

Gold's success has made him a millionaire, and he is widely known as 'The King of Pawn'. He continues to work at the Detroit location of American Jewelry and Loan.

American Jewelry and Loan is a family business

In 1993, the business moved to its current flagship location in Detroit, just south of 8 Mile Road. This expansive showroom, at over 50,000 square feet, became the setting for the hit reality TV show, Hardcore Pawn. The show featured Les alongside his children, Ashley and Seth, who are both co-owners of the business. Ashley has a degree in business administration and a graduate diamond certification, and she has worked at American Jewelry and Loan for over 15 years. Seth, a University of Michigan alumnus, handles the store's marketing division.

Les's wife, Lili, also works at the pawnshop as the office manager, although she only appeared in the background during the first season of Hardcore Pawn and was never mentioned again. Les's niece, Karen Mitchell, also worked at the shop as the co-manager of the jewelry department during seasons 8 and 9. The family's involvement in the business, along with their dynamic and sometimes rivalry, has been a significant draw for viewers of the show.

Today, American Jewelry and Loan operates at multiple sites, employing hundreds of staff and serving over a thousand customers each day. The business has grown into one of the largest and most recognisable pawn shops in the world, and Les Gold has become known as "The King of Pawn".

The pawn shop has multiple sites

The Detroit location is the flagship store and the setting for the popular reality TV show, Hardcore Pawn, which features the shop owner Les Gold and his children, Ashley and Seth Gold. Les Gold is a third-generation pawnbroker and has become known as 'The King of Pawn'. He opened his own store with the support of his wife, Lili, and moved American Jewelry and Loan to its current expansive 50,000-square-foot location in 1993.

Les Gold's business acumen and experience in the pawn industry have contributed to the success and expansion of American Jewelry and Loan. The company now employs hundreds of staff and serves a large number of customers daily across its multiple sites. The multiple locations of American Jewelry and Loan allow the business to reach a wider customer base and provide convenient access to their services for communities across Michigan.

American Jewelry and Loan has become one of the largest and most recognisable pawn shops in the world. Their multiple sites enable them to offer a diverse range of products and services, catering to the needs of their customers. The company's commitment to exceptional customer service and fair dealings has likely contributed to their expansion and positive reputation.

Les Gold is a third-generation pawnbroker

Leslie "Les" Gold, born on June 20, 1950, is a third-generation pawnbroker. He is the grandson of a Jewish pawnbroker who owned the now-defunct pawnshop "Sam's Loans" in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of seven, Les made his first sale at his grandfather's shop, selling alongside his beloved grandfather. This first experience as a salesman propelled his love for the industry and solidified his future as a pawnbroker.

At the age of 12, Les opened his first business, buying pizzas and reselling them by the slice to his fellow students at Hebrew School. This early business venture demonstrated his natural entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen. In 1975, he married Lili Gold, and together they had two children, Ashley and Seth Gold. With the support of his wife, Les opened his own pawn shop, American Jewelry and Loan, in 1978. The store was initially located in the Green Eight Shopping Center on 8 Mile Road in Oak Park.

Over the years, American Jewelry and Loan expanded and, in 1993, Les moved the business to its current location on Greenfield Road in Detroit near 8 Mile. The new location is a spacious showroom and storage facility, spanning more than 50,000 square feet. The Detroit location, with its iconic setting, served as the backdrop for the successful reality TV show "Hardcore Pawn," which aired on TruTV from 2010 to 2014. The show featured Les and his children, Ashley and Seth, who are both involved in the family business.

Today, American Jewelry and Loan operates at multiple sites across Michigan, employing hundreds of staff and serving a large number of customers daily. Les Gold, with his strong work ethic and business skills, has built a successful empire and continues to be an influential figure in the pawnshop industry.

Hardcore Pawn was filmed at the Detroit location

The reality television series, which aired from 2009 to 2015, offered viewers a glimpse into the day-to-day operations of the pawn shop. While the show provided an insight into the pawn industry, some aspects were criticised for being staged for dramatic effect. This included over-the-top arguments and outrageous behaviour by employees and customers, as well as situations that seemed too good to be true. Despite this, the show was popular and offered a unique perspective on the world of pawn shops and their clientele.

Les Gold is a third-generation pawnbroker and a self-proclaimed street-level economist. His first experience in sales was at his grandfather's pawnshop at the age of seven, and he opened his own store with the support of his wife, Lili. Gold is also known for his charitable endeavours, regularly organising events to raise funds for a Detroit charity called 'The Heat And Warmth Fund' ('THAW').

The Detroit location of American Jewelry and Loan served as the backdrop for Hardcore Pawn, showcasing the busy pawn shop and the colourful characters who worked there, including the rivalry between siblings Ashley and Seth. The show also highlighted the interesting items that came through the shop's doors and the bartering that took place, making it a popular watch for those interested in the pawn business.

Frequently asked questions