Pawn Stars not only debuted a style of television and revitalized Pawn Shops even getting them some sort of a “cool status”, but Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, made internationally famous in HISTORY’s hit series Pawn Stars, isn’t the only family-run shop in America that’s bursting at the seams with one-of-a-kind historical items and fascinating stories. Silver Dollar Pawn & Jewelry Center in Alexandria, Louisiana owned and operated by Jimmie DeRamus and his family, is a colorful place that collects an eclectic array of historical merchandise, with a daily stream of quirky local characters attempting to sell, purchase or pawn items— including livestock.
Now, the fascinating world of a southern pawn shop is revealed in the new 30-minute/14-episode series – Cajun Pawn Stars premiering Sunday, January 8 at 10pm EST.
Jimmie, a.k.a. “Big Daddy,” has been buying and selling for over 27 years and, no matter whether he’s haggling over the price of a vintage 1936 Ford flathead V8, a herd of donkeys or Jerry Lee Lewis’ first recording, he’s as savvy as they come. That said, it’s also important to Jimmie that both parties leave the deal with smiles on their faces. That’s how they do things in central Louisiana, where many of his customers are his neighbors.
Jimmie is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to valuable and historic collectibles. He’s a cautious buyer – one has to be to survive in this business – but also unafraid to make a bold move when he spots a true gem. For example, in the premiere episode, he doesn’t think twice about making a staggering $500,000 offer to acquire rare $10,000 and $5,000 bank notes.
Silver Dollar Pawn is one of the biggest shops in the south, a whopping 20,000 square feet that houses more than 100,000 artifacts. It’s a veritable museum, frequented by school and bus tours. Each episode will focus not just on interesting items but the unique dynamic of Jimmie and his family, his daughter Tammie DeRamus and his younger brother Johnnie DeRamus, and their circle of expert appraisers and buyers from the area.
What do you think? Will you watch Cajun Pawn Stars on History? Let me know in the comments section. Also, remember to follow me on Twitter for more Cajun Pawn Stars scoop.
My name is Rosa Trevino….we met at a convention in Dallas Tx.
Do you remember me? I was fifteen and you were 22yrs.old. Any memory? You were living with a sister in Shreveport at the time. You are from Arkanas if I recall correctly.
That was 45yrs ago, my brother told me about your show and thought maybe your were the same man?
Rosa Trevino