What do you get when two people from England share a passion for community and decide to open a pawn and gun shop? You get a thriving business with an open-door policy. Depot Street Pawn and Gun works to break the negative stigma around pawn shops.
“It’s one of the oldest businesses going. I hope we have taken the notion away that they’re dingy, stolen goods,” said Eve Boatright, co-owner.
Customers approaching the business find an unassuming brick building. The door is open, and Steve and Eve Boatright stand inside, ready to greet whoever walks in.
“In 13 years, we’ve found there’s nothing better than knowing customers’ name,” said Eve.
“It’s old school. It means something to a customer that we appreciate them coming in. A lot of people may not buy something, but we still say ‘cheerio’ to them,” explained Steve.
The married couple are passionate about their community and the people with whom they build relationships. They maintain an open-door policy, both literally and figuratively. Eve mentioned that they have become close with some customers, even sending them birthday cards. In the back right corner of the shop hangs their “veterans wall,” featuring memorabilia from customers who became friends. Steve and Eve shared stories about those who had passed, noting that many started simply as customers and later visited just to chat.
The Boatrights also follow a first-name-basis policy with neighboring businesses.
“We get on with all our neighbors,” said Eve.
They support the community in other ways, including stocking care packages with essentials ready for anyone in need, especially during winter.
“It’s a baggy with socks, toothpaste, shampoo, really just the essentials in. In the winter, we try to keep gloves in there. We want people to get things they need,” she added.
Eve wants women to feel comfortable in the shop, noting that pawn and gun stores were once considered male-dominated.
“Times are changing. The last thing we want is for anyone to feel uncomfortable here,” she said.
The last two years have been their best years for selling handguns especially to women. Steve ensures customers find what suits them.
“Don’t get me wrong. I want to sell something; but I want to sell something they actually need,” he said lightheartedly.
The Boatrights also maintain good relationships with local law enforcement.
“The police here are very good to us. We appreciate them,” said Eve. As a heavily regulated industry, it helps to have a healthy relationship with local officers. Steve and Eve follow all laws and regulations, and on rare occasions, police respond quickly when they are needed by the Boatrights.
Eve also loves dogs, welcoming customers who bring theirs and keeping bowls and treats on hand. Their own dog, Zelle, spends time at the store. When walking Zelle around the shop, they find that these walks help them connect with other locals.
Settling from ‘across the pond’
Steve and Eve’s journey to Franklin began in 1997, when the United Kingdom banned firearms. Faced with surrendering Steve’s guns, they considered moving abroad. Already familiar with the United States through vacations, they visited Tennessee and fell in love with its changing seasons. But by 2008, they had decided to become permanent residents of Franklin.
After moving, Steve explored business opportunities and settled on opening a gun store, later adding the pawn side. Eve explained, “You come in with an item, we give you a certain percentage of that item [in cash], and then you can come back to get it. Only take what you need so you don’t pay as much back.”
She added, “We even text people to remind them to come get their stuff. Lives can get busy.”
The original store opened in 2011. Steve remembered it as “a tiny shop next door to the tag office selling whatever we could scrounge up.” They moved to their current location in 2013. “We’ve been here ever since, and it’s been good to us,” said Steve.
Depot Street Pawn and Gun offers more than firearms, including tools, jewelry, holsters, air conditioners, and other items.
“I buy anything if I think I can sell it,” laughed Steve. Eve added, “Even though it is a pawn shop, it’s pre-loved. At one point there was love involved in that ring.”
Most business comes through word of mouth, with some newspaper ads in local publications. While they do have a Facebook page where they occasionally post, Steve and Eve prefer not to use any other internet platforms. They keep everything local to the community that they value so deeply.
“If we buy something local, it gets sold locally. All our money stays within the town,” Eve said proudly. Steve followed up, “I’d rather build up the local clientele than sell all the good stuff on the internet.”
Although most customers come from the local community, there have also been notable visitors. The couple shared about meeting Kevin Costner, who they learned is a “gun guy.” He visited the shop in 2014 while in town to perform at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts. His bodyguards entered first, looked around, and then escorted Costner inside. The Boatrights laughed as they retold the story and recalled that Costner supposedly mentioned on stage that he had gone to a pawn shop and joked about finding “some English people” in the mountains of North Carolina.
For anyone looking to pay Depot Street Pawn and Gun a visit, business hours are from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. “We open a bit later so we have time to walk the dog,” chuckled Eve.