I had a Pawnbrokers shop in my close, on the first floor until about five years ago, when it was converted to a flat. It has moved around the corner into a shop on Dumbarton Rd, and now adds cheque cashing and pay day advances to the services it offers. It used to take a one hour lunch break, and lots of desperate people would buzz my door while it was closed, wanting into the close to wait. Apparently the shop had been there since 1908, when the building was erected. Those creaky balls swinging used to be very annoying on a windy day!
I had to call an ambulance once for a girl who was lying on the stairs, unrousable and with a very mottled face who had a needle lying next to her. I went downstairs to the guy at the Pawn, and asked him to direct the ambulance crew upstairs, as I was going to wait with this girl. All he had had to say was it was nothing to do with him. Aye right!
Anyway, when the ambulance eventually arrived, she was coming round and wouldnt go with them as she had to get jellies to her man, so all's well that ends well! I do not miss the pawn, its relocation must have helped increase the value of my flat