Harry Jaffe: Pawn shops help define a D.C. neighborhood

Pawn shops are often among the earliest storefronts to open up in a neighborhood and usually the first to shutter if a street starts turning from funky shops to “fantastic” condos. So it was not a great surprise to hear that Sam’s Pawnbrokers, north of Logan Circle on 14th Street, is closing its doors in May, after more than 30 years of lending money and buying and selling stuff.