The only bar where everything is for sale will celebrate a dazzling decade this October with their famed portrait of Kramer finally going under the hammer.
As featured in Forbes magazine, The Pawn Shop has long been a regular playground for local and international celebrities, including Australian of the year Dylan Alcott, footballer Buddy Franklin, UFC featherweight champ Alex Volkanovski, model and burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese and world-class DJs Miguel Campbell, Riva Starr, Luigi Madonna, Detlef, Latmunn and Dom Dolla. The owners will take the celebration next level with a four-day party kicking off this Thursday and running through to Sunday.
Behind The Pawn Shop stands a team of industry stalwarts including Steven Thomas, Josh Lefers, Stephen Wools, Keti Kezunovic, Andrew Travers, Luke Forte and Gaz Kempster. Guests can expect to talk about the party for another 10 years, with the celebration bringing the entire venue to life.
Expect real-life toys emerging from 7-foot boxes, and performances from Transformers and latex Ken and Barbie. Secrets will be revealed, including how Buzz Lightyear manages to follow your every move around the bar. Plus, punters will of course, be able to buy whatever their heart desires, including in a quirky twist – the owners! Guests can bid on the owner of their choice to serve as their butler for the day with all proceeds going to dog rescue charities in honour of Slinky Dog from Toy Story.
“Our tagline ‘the only bar in the world where everything is for sale’ has always been at the heart of who we are,” says Josh Lefers, one of the seven owners, “so it just seemed natural to sell ourselves, purely for charity purposes – of course!”.
The Pawn Shop is known not only for its pumping party atmosphere but also incredible interiors inspired by a scavenger aesthetic where everything is reused and repurposed. This is a bar with a real difference, including a cryogenic chamber, talking vending machine and cabinets of curiosities and memorabilia. The ground floor features a Carousel Cocktail Bar, whilst the top floor houses the main bar and brass instrument DJ booth. The entire venue is wall-to-wall kitsch and curiosities and all for sale.
“For our birthday, we have created a pawn shop that comes to life,” says Mikey CT, General Manager, “there will be plenty of gangster items up for sale as well, including gold watches, jewellery, trumpets, and antique gold chains and bling, all the things we’ve come to be known and loved for.”
This will be the biggest event ever hosted by The Pawn Shop and, all under the gaze of their iconic mascot the cyborg kangaroo. The evening will feature a cocktail menu with favourites like ‘Daddy Issues’ and ‘The Cartel’. In a surprising move, after ten long years, the owners have decided to finally auction off their prized portrait of Kramer!
“This has been our most sought-after pawn item since our launch,” said Keti Kezunovic, Co-Owner, “we have always placed a lofty price tag on the framed artwork so no one would buy it. But we figured, for our milestone party, the timing was right for Kramer to go to auction for the first time ever.”
It’s a case of ‘watch this space’ with big plans in the pipeline for the seven owners, including opening another venue. After meeting through Big Dog Creative, the team has since that time worked on numerous venues, including the original 29th apartment in St Kilda, as well as Ballers Clubhouse and StoryVille in Melbourne’s CBD. The four-day extravaganza for The Pawn Shop promises to be an event of epic proportions with the sky the limit for this talented crew.
The celebrations will take place at Pawn & Co. from Thursday 20th October until Sunday 23rd October from 7pm each night at 177 Greville St, Prahran. Guests are invited to dress in cocktail attire with a hint of toy. Each night is ticketed with availability on the door if nights are not sold out.
Thursday 20 October
Transformers // Drag Disco // Face Painters
It’s Flash X Pawn Thursdays… but on crack! Drag performers Avah Miss-Behavah and Sam T opening the festivities, with party guests like Optimus Prime and Bumble Bee to transform your night! The carnival kicks off with Face Painters, Food Trucks, Light Shows, Ball Pits and even a Chastity Belt Grinder, for the late-night show!!
Friday 21 October
Live Barbie Dolls // Transformers // Dancers // Face Painting
THIS IS THE NIGHT!! We’re bringing ultimate Interactive Pawn, a celebration of old and new! Naked Platters, Champagne Dresses, Live Barbies, Toy Dancers and Transformers… Pawn is out to play! With throwback DJ’s to celebrate Pawn through the ages, and the whole carnival of Light Shows and Face Painters, unleash your inner Pawn Star for the ultimate play time!
Saturday 22 October
Current DJ’s // Tonnes of Entertainment
Pawn Stars old and new, tonight we celebrate everything Pawn has become! The festival continues with life size toys come to life for your entertainment! Light Shows and Confetti Cannons causing a ruckus around some of the biggest DJ’s playing the biggest jams and versus sets!
Sunday 23 October
Industry Night Debauchery // The Weekend Climax!
Ooh baby this is going to need a safe word and some aftercare! Dress up and get down at the Biggest Industry night yet! Pawn & Co. parties are the peak for self-expression and creative celebration. Dress up in your glitter and costumed finest – because today, YOU are the dolls!! A culmination of everything we love about Pawn – the people!
