Fishtown store prompts councilman’s push for pawn shop legislation

What began with a cash-for-gold store in Fishtown has sparked legislation that could change how business and zoning are conducted in the city. Philadelphia Councilmen Darrell Clarke and Frank DiCicco are pushing a bill that would categorize such stores as pawn shops, not as jewelry stores like they currently are.

The store across the street from SugarHouse Casino is being watched carefully since it posted cash-for-gold signs in the windows. The signs have since been removed after posted a stop-work order.

But as PlanPHilly reports, Clarke and DiCicco want to prevent such establishments from cropping up in abundance. Instead of being classified in the zoning code as jewelry stores, cash-for-gold stores would be a subcategory of pawn shops, which the city could better regulate.

The bill will go before a City Council committee and onto full Council if approved.