Pasternack's Pawn Shops has operated as a family-owned business in Aurora, Colorado since 1919, making it one of the state's longest-established pawn operations. The shop is located at 9745 E Colfax Ave and maintains traditional pawn shop hours Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM. Like all pawn shops, they provide collateral-based loans where customers can pledge personal items—jewelry, bicycles, electronics, and other merchandise—in exchange for short-term cash access. The business operates with a physical storefront model and accepts walk-in customers for browsing and transactions.
Pasternack's distinguishes itself from typical pawn shops through its merchandise curation. Customer reviews specifically mention the shop stocks items "closer to what you see on Pawn Stars" rather than standard pawn inventory, suggesting a focus on more interesting or higher-quality merchandise. The shop maintains an accessible storefront and has been described by customers as "the least-sketchy pawn shop," noting the absence of typical security bars on windows and a more welcoming atmosphere than competitor locations.
The business maintains a 3.0-star rating across 11 reviews on Yelp, with mixed customer feedback. Positive reviews highlight friendly, smiling employees and a good selection of items. However, recent reviews raise operational concerns: customers report cleanliness issues (describing the space as smelling like "an old thrift store" and "very dirty"), and one 2022 review documents an employee admitting to arriving at work intoxicated. These accounts suggest potential challenges with facility maintenance and staff professionalism.
Pasternack's represents a traditional pawn shop model suitable for consumers researching short-term cash access via collateral loans rather than credit-based financing. The 100+ year history indicates business stability, but prospective customers should weigh the curated merchandise selection against recent cleanliness and staffing concerns noted in contemporary reviews.