UPDATED:
Big changes are coming for pawn shops in Martinsville.
City council approved a new ordinance llate Tuesday night.
Under the new ordinance, pawn shops can't be located within one thousand feet of a church, school, playground or other pawn shop.
Also, the business can't open before 10 a-m and must close at 9.
Councilman Danny Turner says exceptions could be made and each case would be looked at individually.
People who need to pawn something could end up going to Danville Pawn in Danville.
Councilman Turner voted against the ordinance.
He says the requirements will drive pawn shops away instead of welcome new business.
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From guns to guitars inventory at pawn shops is filling up fast. It's a business most customers couldn't live without.
"75 percent of our customers are everyday people we're on first name basis. We just give them a small loans when they need to pay a few bills to get through the month," Hardway said.
Though it's a near saving grace in Danville, people in nearby Martinsville may soon not have the luxury.
The city is considering changing where pawn shops can open and their exact business hours.
"It gives us a little bit of control in case there is a mass influx of pawn shops. I'm not anticipating that. But it could prohibit some clustering of it," said Mayor Kim Adkins.
Under the proposed ordinance, pawn shops must be at least 1,000 feet away from school's, playgrounds, churches, or other pawn shops. The business can't open before 10 and has to close before nine.
According to Councilman Danny Turner, the changes aren't welcoming to new business.
"It's way restrictive. And you take the uptown area is maybe I would say it's not 50 percent occupied and the guys can go just 10 foot across into the county and be welcomed there," Turner told WDBJ7.
The reason for the change falls in the hands of criminals.
Martinsville police saw an increase in stolen items pawned in Henry County and Danville in the last couple of years.
Virginia law allows cities to limit the number of pawn shops.
Now quick cash and low priced goods could be hard to find in the city.
