- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Brothers Collateral Loans
Category: Shopping Pawn Shops Pawn Shops [Edit]
5901 Melrose AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90038
Neighborhood: Mid Wilshire
(323) 462-5599
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 5 pm
Sun 11 am - 4 pm
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
3 reviews for Brothers Collateral Loans
3 reviews in English
-
Review from James M.
Los Angeles, CA
10/22/2009
Los Angeles seems to be a city of unexpected experiences, and my visit to the Brothers Collateral Loans pawn shop this morning certainly qualifies.
I've always had the notion that pawn shops were dark and sleazy, perfect backdrops for a scene in a dime-store mystery but not the kind of place in which I'd see myself hanging out. And I had no intention of challenging that preconceived notion until I saw James P.'s review of the place, and I got to thinking.
Turns out, the shop is clean, comfortable, and filled with all sorts of unusual bric-a-brac. Ernest, one of the owners, is an incredibly nice guy, and he struck up a conversation with me immediately.
It was a strange experience, but I'm glad I went. I'm not saying all pawn shops are cool, friendly places (I live in Hollywood, and I've walked by enough Hollywood Boulevard pawnbrokers to say that creepy and shady seems to be the rule rather than the exception) but this place is aces in my book. -
Review from James P.
Hollywood, CA
3/13/2009 1 photo
Drastic times call for drastic measures.
If you need to hock something, this is *the* place to go!
First, they are open on Sundays, unlike pretty much every other pawn shop in town. So there's the convenience factor.
Next, it's family-owned, not some big corporate offshoot of BofA or whoever, and their payday loan subsidiary that's staffed by surly unshaven bums. The Brothers are actually brothers, and their mom is often there, too. She'll come out from the back occasionally and pass out candies.
The shop itself is a fun browse - they seem to favor old radios and antique-y things - usually one of the vintage vacuum-tube radios is playing the Classical station, depending on which of the brothers is in that day. Rudy tends to go for the classical. Ernie seems to lay off the radios.
This shop also tends to have more art than others. There is a very nice bronze sculpture there now. Musical instruments are also a specialty at this shop.
Of course, jewelry of all kinds is available, and always welcome if you need a loan. They really know watches.
The really good thing about this pawnshop, what really sets it apart from the others, is the guys who work there. Particularly Rudy and Ernie, the "Brothers" who own the place, and Cameron, who's been there a long time.
They actually care. They are friendly and understanding, not cold and brusque like you'd expect from a pawnbroker. They aren't there just to take your stuff - I think they actually want you to get through whatever tough patch it is that brought you there with your jewelry or whatever. If they can't give you as much as you want for whatever you bring in, they actually sound a bit apologetic about it. These are nice people, and when you need to hock something, that goes a long way, too.
One of the guys there told me that they have a very low percentage of people who don't eventually redeem their stuff, and he was quite proud of it. I don't recall exactly, but I think it was something fewer than 10% who don't manage to eventually get their things back.
I've bought stuff there, and I've pawned stuff there, for probably 10 years. So, if you find yourself in need of a pawnshop, I give this one my highest recommendation. -
Review from evie w.
Wilmington, DE
7/7/2010
Nicer than the average pawnshop. The decor is interesting. The employees are helpful and polite. I was looking at their diamond jewelry and instead of being pushy or trying to talk me into a particular ring, the gentleman said "if it's meant to be then it will be here when you're ready".
I'm sure I will stop in from time to time to check out their musical instruments.
