The historic former Davidner's building will soon house Riverside Pawn. The new owner plans to leave the mural intact. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Permit granted

Riverside Pawn to expand to new location

May 12, 2020 | 3:03 PM

Prince Albert City Council has approved a development permit that will allow a long-standing downtown pawnshop to relocate to a much larger nearby building.

The new 17,500 square foot location at 25 River Street West is nearly three times the size of Riverside Pawn’s current business at 49 River Street West.

“We were really crammed,” Riverside Pawn Owner Brian Bieber told paNOW. “We wanted a bigger place and we’ve been on River Street for 33 years, so we wanted to stay on River Street. We like it here.”

Bieber said he’s also purchased land beside the building where he plans to display Ski-Doos and quads for sale.

A portion of what will be the sale floor of the new pawnshop. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

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The building was previously home to Davidner’s, an 81-year fixture of the riverfront known for its western wear. Its new owner plans to keep the historic mural on the side of the business.

“I’m going to leave that there out of respect for Herschel [Davidner],” Bieber said.

Currently Bieber is working on painting the interior of the space, but says they could have renovations complete and their stock moved over to the new building in time for an opening by the end of the summer.

In the meantime, when pawnshops are allowed to open on May 19 as part of phase two of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan, Riverside Pawn will be operating out of its current building.

Riverside Pawn’s future location at 25 River Street West is outlined in red. (Agenda Package/City of P.A.)

While council received three letters from residents concerned the new “mega pawnshop” would negatively impact neighborhood businesses and decrease the historic value of the area, Bieber said those criticisms are unfounded.

“We’ve never had a problem down here, we always obeyed all the laws and we donate tons of stuff around the city,” Bieber said. “We do tons for the city and we do tons for the people. We’re a service, really we’re a poor man’s bank.”

Councillors voted 7-1 to approve the development permit to relocate the pawnshop at the most recent regular meeting on April 27.

“When it comes down to it this development permit does meet all the requirements as per the zoning bylaw,” Director of Planning and Development Craig Guidinger told the meeting.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom