Located at 1452 Washington Avenue, the luxury pawn shop South Beach, this location is home to the first East Coast Max Pawn Luxury storefront. With three thriving locations in Las Vegas and an online presence, the pawnshop is set to bring its signature style of testing for authenticity and offering top-dollar prices straight to Miami’s fashion-savvy community.

Why Locals Love This Luxury Pawn Shop in South Beach

While pawn shops are typically associated with the seedy world of shady lending practices, Hernandez hopes to change this perception. “Pawn is posh right now,” she says, which she credits to shows such as History Channel’s Cajun Pawn Stars. The show is merchandise heavy and has an attractive shop, but the characters are flat and their commentary often lacks knowledge. In one episode, they low-ball a seller on a 1930s Ford because it’s not the original Bonnie & Clyde car, despite the fact that it is a legitimate classic from that era.

The pawnshop’s wall mural features a highly stylized portrait of Queen Isabella, who, legend has it, pawned her crown jewels to fund Columbus’ voyage. It’s a metaphor that Hernandez feels applies to her shop in particular, as well as to the city of Miami itself. “Miami is a melting pot, and this place is a melting pot of things that represent Miami,” she says.