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A new shop from the owner of Majestic Jewelry and Loan Co., a downtown stable for nearly 70 years, carries musical instruments, DJ equipment, sports and music memorabilia, and much more.

published on December 26, 2018 - 12:18 PM
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The Majestic Jewelry & Loan Co. pawnshop in Downtown Fresno has expanded with a second shop right next door.

Majestic Music & More sells new and used musical instruments, video game systems, camera gear and DJ equipment.

Leon Alchian, Jr, owner of Majestic Jewelry and Loan Co. – a third-generation pawnshop that has been a staple of the downtown area since 1909 – is an avid music lover. He got the idea to open up a second store after he commissioned a outside mural featuring iconic rock ‘n’ roll figures on the sidewall of the shop.

“I wanted to tie the music store to the artists featured on the wall,” Alchian said. “Plus I wanted to move things from the pawnshop to the new store. I’m running out of room in the shop, so all my instruments and all my hard goods will be sold next door. The only thing in the pawn shop will be jewelry and firearms.”

After the owners of wig shop Tiffany Fashions decided to retire after 22 years in business, he took the opportunity to use the vacant shop. He owns the storefront.

The new store features 1,600 square feet of space, and there is also a sound room for customers to try out instruments and equipment.

The store also has vinyl records, CDs, sports and music memorabilia, knives and other miscellaneous items.

Alchian said that after jewelry and firearms, musical instruments are the best sellers in pawnshops. He plans to amp up his search for more instruments, especially guitars from major brands including Fender, Gibson, C.F. Martin & Co., and Guild, and he plans to do some advertising when the store opens.

There are eight employees in the pawnshop. Alchian plans on filtering two or three of them to the music store to assist customers. Majestic Music & More will only serve as a retail store, and the pawning of items will still be done in the pawnshop.

Along with selling guitars, bass guitars, and drum kits, Alchian also wants to have a major focus on advertising to schools for saxophone, flutes, trumpets, and other music instruments that children use in band classes, and offer the schools package deals.

He also said he is considering renting out musical instruments once the store is more established, as the renting process comes with complications of insurance for the instruments.

Alchian plans on hiring teachers to offer guitar and drum lessons in the store.

“ I want to see a lot of kids come and give them the spark for musical instruments,” said Alchian. “I want kids to stop playing video games all the time and pick up a guitar.”


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