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A Berwyn man who plans to open a jewelry resale and pawn shop in the building that formerly housed Hollywood Video in downtown La Grange said Thursday night he would have attended a meeting of the La Grange Business Association Thursday morning if only he had known about it.
"I would have loved to attend," Andy Grayson said. Having been issued a business license May 22 by village officials to operate All-Star Jewelry and Loan, Grayson said he welcomed the opportunity to convince the La Grange community that his store would be a shopping destination that would attract upscale shoppers not deter them.
But Grayson apparently was not on a list of association and community members who Tuesday were sent an email from LGBA Presdident Michael LaPidus, asking them to attend the "URGENT Meeting" at which he encouraged them to support efforts by village officials to amend the zoning ordinance regulating downtown businesses to prohibit pawn shops and possibly other uses.
At the meeting, LaPidus said he and other LGBA board members met last week with village officials to express their concern over the pawn shop after hearing an outcry during Pet Parade weekend from residents who noticed signs Grayson put in his storefront's windows announcing its opening in July.
Village Manager Bob Pilipiszyn Wednesday confirmed that his staff was drafting zoning code amendments to be presented June 29 to the village plan commission. If recommended for adoption by the commission, the village board could consider and possibly approve the changes at its regular session July 13. Pilipiszyn said he was not certain how any change might affect the license already issued to Grayson.
In his email, LaPidus wrote that a pawn shop would "devalue the progress this village and business community has made over the last decade."
"If I had that much power I would be in politics not opening a business," Grayson said.
Grayson said that, while he was unaware of the LGBA meeting, LaPidus phoned him June 3 to inform him "that the village was not going to support my type of business."
The call came as complete surprise, Grayson said, because he had encountered no resistance from village officials during the application process for his business license.
Grayson said he initially visited the village's community development office in April after a perusal of the village's website suggested the existing zoning laws in La Grange would allow his business. He said a staff member advised him to send a letter to Pat Benjamin, the village's community development director, who was away from the office at the time.
Grayson said he wrote and mailed a letter to Benjamin on May 2 in which he specifically wrote, "I am requesting a license for a pawn shop."
He said his next communication with Benjamin occurred on May 18 when he again visited the development office to submit his application.
Grayson recalled that Benjamin "personally came to the counter, shook my hand, looked me in the eyes, told me absolutely that pawn shops were allowed and told me he was excited about my store."
Grayson said one of the reasons he chose La Grange over other communities he was considering was that "I knew I had the support of village hall." Indeed, within a week All-Star Jewelry & Loan received its business license, signed by Village Manager Elizabeth Asperger and Village Clerk Robert Milne.
Grayson said he subsequently registered his business name with Cook County and, having obtained a lease on the storefront, began plans to build out its interior.
A week later came the call from LaPidus. The following day Benjamin phoned, Grayson said.
"He told me that pawn shops were going to be outlawed by the village and that I shouldn't waste my money trying to open the store," Grayson said.
"I'm confused," Grayson said. "I have done everything with due diligence. I haven't tried to pull the wool over everybody's eyes. I've got nothing to hide."
A native of Elmhurst, Grayson said he has spent the past seven years managing another pawn shop, whose name and location he declined to reveal as he has not yet informed the owners of his plans to open his own store. Prior to that that, he worked in the computer business and served in the Marine Corps, he said.
A well run, upscale pawn shop is a magnet for affluent shoppers, featuring mostly jewelry of high quality, along with high-end electronics such as flat-screen televisions, sports equipment and the occasional well maintained power tool, Grayson said.
Most visitors only see the well lighted showroom, he said. Pawn transactions are conducted out of sight in a closed booth at the rear of store. "Just me and the customer, face to face," Grayson said.
The image of a pawn shop as a dark, seedy environment whose proprietor sits in a cage is something found mostly in movies and on television, he said.
LaPidus, he said, "has no idea what my store will be like, and he didn't offer me a chance to explain it to anyone. I've done nothing to deserve this witch hunt."
Grayson hopes to encounter a more receptive audience when makes his case at the plan commission's public hearing June 29. In the meantime, he is proceeding with plans to open the store in July as advertised. He also is in frequent contact with his attorney, he said.
"My family's welfare depends on the success of my business," Grayson said. His wife of two years is eight months pregnant. They have a nine-year-old son from her previous marriage. "Everything we have is invested here."
LaPidus and Benjamin have not responded to requests for comment.
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Who the heck does LaPidus think he is, calling anyone to warn them off of opening a business in La Grange? I don't remember voting to elect him into any office and am not that impressed with the value his business provides to an upscale community like La Grange. There are sandwich shops and there are sandwich shops.
Posted by: WilliamDobias | June 12, 2009 at 03:39 AM
I understand the need to maintain an image, but this sounds like snobbery and irrational fear-mongering to me. Seems to me that having a pawn shop is better for the village image than having an empty storefront. I wonder if LaPidus would be throwing a fit if this store was going in on the other end of town and not going in near his sandwich/rib shop.
Posted by: Bob | June 12, 2009 at 11:09 AM
The Hope Chest, Jackson Square Mall - don't these current LGBA members serve as resellers of goods that others no longer want? Similar to what a pawn shop does? In this economy and in an area like LaGrange, I think there is probably a need for a reputable, upscale shop where people can go to sell their unwanted jewelry, etc. I trust that the new business owner has done some research into what would be successful in LaGrange and will operate his business accordingly. The LGBA members need to learn to be better neighbors and not to pre-judge without any real information. Their reaction to this can frighten away more potential retailers more than this new store does.
Posted by: LG since 1990 | June 12, 2009 at 02:46 PM
Quote from this article:
"A well run, upscale pawn shop is a magnet for affluent shoppers, featuring mostly jewelry of high quality, along with high-end electronics such as flat-screen televisions, sports equipment and the occasional well maintained power tool, Grayson said."
If they are such magnets for upscale, affluent shoppers, why isn't there one in Oak Brook mall?
Posted by: Joe Bagodonuts | June 12, 2009 at 09:10 PM
I think that the burden of proof as to the TYPE of business that is actually under consideration lies with the prospective owner, Mr. Grayson.
In my opinion, the term "pawnbroker" lies at the core of the debate, The definition of pawnbroker being:
"Someone who lends money at a fixed rate of interest in exchange for articles of personal property which are left as security."
A pawn shop is different than a re-sale shop, where items are left on a consignment basis. The LOAN factor is the key difference. When money changes hands up front, questions arise.
An important consideration is proof of ownership of the item/items being pawned. That is why police departments are always on the alert for stolen items being fenced. It is up to Mr. Grayson to establish credibility.
Posted by: LG since 1957 | June 13, 2009 at 02:01 PM
This is a jewelry consignment shop! Let's not promote ignorance and irrational fear in LaGrange!
Posted by: Roz R | June 16, 2009 at 09:47 PM
All-Star Jewelry and Loan? While I'm not in favor of it personally, and it may be due to my own ignorance about both pawnshops and the horrible name, La Grange did issue the man a business license.
Can we possibly have representatives who make good decisions and then stick to them?
Posted by: Scout | June 23, 2009 at 12:38 PM