The Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, located at 713 Las Vegas Boulevard South, became a nationally recognized brand after the History Channel series Pawn Stars premiered in 2009. Richard Harrison Sr. served as the shop's co-owner and senior advisor, handling inventory, precious metals pricing, and high-value negotiations. The business operates under Nevada state pawn licensing regulations and is subject to oversight by the Nevada Division of Financial Institutions for consumer lending and precious metals transactions.
Richard Harrison Sr. Business and Financial Impact
Richard Harrison Sr. built his wealth through decades of retail pawn operations, precious metals trading, and rare coin dealing. The Gold & Silver Pawn Shop reported millions in annual revenue during the peak run of Pawn Stars, with inventory spanning gold bars, silver coins, jewelry, and historical memorabilia. The shop's valuation and brand equity are often cited in business case studies on family-owned enterprises and reality-driven retail growth.
The Harrison family's financial structure includes the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop LLC and related entities that manage inventory, consignments, and precious metals acquisitions. Richard Harrison Sr. worked closely with his sons Rick, Corey, and Adam Harrison to scale the business beyond the physical storefront into licensing, merchandise, and media partnerships. The shop's operations intersect with broader financial sectors such as numismatics, bullion markets, and consumer lending, as documented in industry analyses of pawn shop economics.
Legacy and Continuing Influence on Rick Harrison
Rick Harrison, the son of Richard Benjamin Harrison Sr., continues to lead the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop and expand the Harrison brand through media appearances, public speaking, and bullion-related ventures. The shop remains a fixture on the Las Vegas Strip and maintains a strong online presence for rare coin and precious metals sales. Rick Harrison frequently references his father's business principles, including rigorous authentication, transparent pricing, and long-term customer relationships.
Business Structure and Regulatory Context
The Gold & Silver Pawn Shop operates as a licensed pawnbroker and precious metals dealer in Clark County, Nevada. It complies with federal regulations including the Bank Secrecy Act reporting requirements for large cash transactions and the oversight of the Nevada Division of Financial Institutions. The business model combines retail pawn lending, bullion trading, and numismatic sales, with inventory sourced from auctions, estates, and direct acquisitions.
Key Facts and Figures
Richard Harrison Sr. co-owned the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop for over 30 years before his death in 2018. The shop's inventory includes gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products, along with rare U.S. and foreign coins. Rick Harrison and his brother Corey Harrison continue to manage day-to-day operations and brand expansion, leveraging the family's expertise in precious metals valuation and historical artifact authentication.
Industry and Market Position
The pawn shop industry in the United States is regulated at the state level, with Nevada maintaining specific licensing and reporting frameworks for precious metals dealers. The Gold & Silver Pawn Shop ranks among the most recognized pawn businesses globally due