Pawn shops' popularity blossoming

Pawn shops are being frequented by the general population much more regularly due to the massive popularity of reality television shows centered around the industry. And because the practice of looking into short term lending options at pawn stores is gaining more notoriety, new shops are opening nationwide. New York's The Journal News reported pawn shops have been opening on a widespread scale around the region. Louis Buoninfante's Quick Cash stores, which already more than 20 locations, are attempting to expand business across Westchester County. While some in the area are fighting the growth, Buoninfante told The Journal News that it has benefited citizens immensely, saying, "These people need a secondary place to borrow money. This is a business like a bank." Pawn shop owner Jacob Landau told The Journal News that because of the current economic climate in the United States, people who are down on their luck are not the only customers taking advantages of the short-term loans pawn shops offer. Doctors, nurses and others in professional fields are among clients that have pawned items for fast cash at Landau's location. According to the Pawn Industry Overview released by the National Pawnbrokers Association, the sector saw massive gains between 2007 and 2012. While there were nearly 6,400 pawn shops in 2007, the report claimed there were around 10,000 as of January 2012.