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‘Pawn Stars’ News: Chumlee’s Candy On The Boulevard At Pawn Plaza Still Not Open — What Has Chum Been Doing?

By Georgia Makitalo
Published on: 08:49 PST, Jun 12, 2017

For several months, Chumlee — the lovable goof on Pawn Stars — has been promoting his new business, Chumlee’s Candy on the Boulevard. Located at the Rick Harrison-owned Pawn Plaza, Chumlee announced he was opening the store with his younger brother, Sage.

Despite numerous interviews on local Las Vegas news stations, as well as with several area newspapers, the opening day has been delayed for over a month. The official pawn shop website has announced the opening’s delay back on May 8. Potential customers who may look at the candy store’s Facebook or Twitter pages, as well as its official website, are not finding an answer. As of yet, no store opening date has been scheduled yet. Where has Chumlee been?

As the Inquistir previously reported, Chumlee’s Candy on the Boulevard was set to open on May 8. He was seen on Vegas television programs in the Pawn Plaza shop, right across the parking place where Pawn Stars is filmed, the World Famous Gold and Silver Pawn Shop. Austin Lee Russell, better known as Chumlee, along with his brother Sage, are going to run the small business.

In the video, candy was already on the shelves, and Chumlee proudly showed off some of his favorite treats. It sounds like he got involved in picking out his products like Bottle Caps and mystery-flavored jelly beans.

However, anyone with a candy fix may have to get up early to partake of the store’s sugary treats. According to the door of the store that is revealed in the video interview, Chumlee’s Candy on the Boulevard has early opening hours. Monday through Friday, the store is open at 7 a.m. and closes at 5:30 p.m., while on the weekend, the store opens an hour later. Yet, the store is located in the previous location of the Pawn Donut & Coffee Shop, which, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, closed last August. In addition, the broadcaster pointed out that the store sign was not yet up.

Is it possible that Chumlee has decided to have a big grand opening? Does Pawn Plaza want to create a big shindig with newer tenants? Perhaps the delay is as simple as some paperwork. As of now, there has not been a public explanation for the opening delay.

Pawn Plaza has had some challenges since it first opened 20 months ago. The container park mall was built by Rick Harrison as a profit center for his post-Pawn Stars life. Less than a year after the mall opened, Smoke’s Poutinerie, Pawn Coffee and Donut, Vegas Flip Flops, and Inna Gadda di Pizza all closed.

Rita’s Italian Ice also had to leave Pawn Plaza. The owner, Paul Weinstein, told KTVN that he was quite upset about leaving the mall. Many of the owners, including Weinstein, felt that they were not given enough publicity and saw just a handful of customers come into their stores each day. Meanwhile, thousands visited the Pawn Stars pawn shop across the parking lot. Weinstein was quite bitter when his business closed.

“I don’t know how I feel other than slighted and betrayed.”

Yet, in a statement, Rick Harrison explained that this is the nature of small businesses: some are successful, some are not.

“While we are disappointed to see some of our original tenants leave Pawn Plaza, it is the nature of this business. Tenants will shuffle around to some degree before we settle in with the perfect blend of businesses. We wish all of those departing the best of luck and look forward to announcing our new tenants very shortly.”

Since Chumlee’s Candy on the Boulevard has not opened, what has the Pawn Stars fav been up to? A lot! Chumlee has been incredibly busy online. He is now part of a Pokemon-playing trio called Sack or Scoop. In the YouTube videos, the three men answer questions posed by fans on their social media platforms and interview champions. Chum fans can even play the affable Pawn Stars celebrity in Pokemon and try to beat him!

What is your best guess at what could be causing the delay in opening Chumlee’s Candy on the Boulevard? Are you following Chumlee on Sack or Scoop?

[Featured Image by Ethan Miller/Getty Images]

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