Pawn America eyes a facelift

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7_14IOCPawnAmericaPawn America’s Midway store at 1636 University Ave. will be extensively renovated in the months ahead, adding a new entrance point, redoing the exterior and eliminating a long-standing traffic hazard on nearby Fry St. Pawn America is preparing to take its detailed building and site plans to the city this summer. Only site plan review is required, so no Planning Commission or Board of Zoning Appeals action is needed. Once the work gets underway, passerby will notice that the store’s red pyramid icon will go away.

“After three years of watching the construction of the Green Line, we’re excited to be investing in our property,” said Chuck Armstrong, chief legislative officer for Pawn America. The intent is to update the store inside and outside, and make it more pedestrian-friendly.

Armstrong and Link Wilson of Kass Wilson Architects said the store is in need of an upgrade. Its existing entrance is off of Fry St., with some off-street parking there. Customers back out onto Fry, creating a dangerous situation for other motorists. The store entrance will be moved to the building’s east side. Plans show columns, planters and a square roof at the building’s northeast corner. An open walkway will lead to the new entrance on the east side of the building. The current entrance would be used for store personnel. The new entrance would be adjacent to parking shared with a building to the east. There will be columns at the corner, supporting a roof. The new entrance cannot easily be placed at the corner because of a two-foot grade change at the building site, Wilson said.

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