Celebrating 29 Years of Community and Art at Our Pawn Shop in Florida
As we approach the 29th anniversary of our pawn shop’s beginning in Lake Worth on March 25th, 1995, we’re thrilled to commemorate this milestone with our beloved community. Join us as we reflect on the journey that brought us here and look forward to exciting celebrations ahead.
The evolution of our engagement with art
Ten years ago, we embarked on a journey to integrate art into our pawn shop experience. What began with the creation of the Friday exterior mural at our heritage store has blossomed into a commitment to inspiring our communities through artistic expression.
Unveiling our largest mural artwork yet
We’re proud to unveil our largest mural artwork yet on the north facade of our second location in West Palm Beach. This amazing masterpiece is a testament to our dedication to both art and community. Collaborating with local artist Naomi Haverland, we brought to life the vibrant persona of Mermaid Chè Monique. See her mural story here for yourself: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1066489274557800
We asked Naomi to share her journey and inspiration behind the mural, and to highlight the process and dedication that went into its creation:
Why did you choose Mermaid Chè Monique as your inspiration?
“I became aware of Mermaid Chè Monique when I encountered her Instagram profile a couple years ago. I fell in love with her colorful, jolly, enchanting persona and knew I would love to be able to paint her.”
What is your connection to Queen of Pawns? And what was the creative process like?
“In December of 2020 I painted a mural on Queen of Pawn’s Tampa location and after that, they wanted to have me do another mural on one of their other locations. I immediately thought of Che and presented the idea to Queen of Pawns and they loved the idea as well.
I needed to be able to photograph Chè, so I contacted her and explained that I was a muralist and would love to include her in a mural. I said that if she was ever in Florida, to let me know so that I could set up a photo session. I really didn’t know if she would even respond to the email at all since she is extremely popular online and probably receives emails from fans all the time. Surprisingly, she responded excited about the idea, and amazingly, she was scheduled to be in Florida within a couple weeks. So in January of 2022, I rented a studio space and photographed her.”
What are your thoughts on the final mural?
“I especially loved all her expressive facial expressions. When it came to designing the mural, I knew I wanted to include a unique expression, but I also wanted to include a nod to her mermaid persona. That’s where the lightbulb comes in, as a reference to an angler fish, tying the image to ocean imagery. This is also appropriate for the area of West Palm Beach, because it is near the ocean.
After designing the mural, it took about two years for all the logistics and approvals to be worked out before I actually got to paint it. It had to go through City approval processes, and the palm trees in front of the wall had to be relocated. The whole process was a lesson in patience!
My favorite part of the mural is the jewels- I had a lot of fun painting each one of them and I love the way they turned out.”
Connecting with the artist, Naomi Haverland
If you’d like to see more of Naomi’s incredible work, we invite you to visit her website www.NaomiHaverland.com or give her a follow on Instagram @NaomiHaverland.
Celebrating royal bargains throughout March
In celebration of our 29th anniversary, we’re thrilled to offer special anniversary promotions throughout the month of March. Each of our 15 stores will feature its own unique specials, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Inviting our community to join the celebration
We extend a warm invitation to our community to join us in celebrating 29 years of serving Florida. Come and see our new mural for yourself, take advantage of our special anniversary offers, and embrace sustainable shopping in the spirit of community and creativity.
We couldn’t do it without you!
As we celebrate this milestone, we want to express our gratitude to our customers, employees, and community for their incredible support over the past 29 years. It’s your trust, loyalty, and enthusiasm that have fueled our commitment to fostering an engaging environment through art, community engagement, and exceptional service.
Here’s to many more years of creativity, camaraderie, and memories at our pawn shop in Florida. Thank you for being a part of our story!
