Gulf pawnshop reports more middle-class clients in wake of oil spill . More first-time pawners are coming to the shop and they 're bringing with them the mementos of better days , said Riley . The number of people who have been affected by the disaster has risen to about 50,000 from a few hundred before the spill, according to the Associated Press. `` We 're seeing a lot more high-end jewelry , '' says owner . Recession is changing stereotypes often linked to pawnshops , he says .
Gulf pawnshop reports more middle-class clients in wake of oil spill . The number of people who have been affected by the disaster has risen to about 50,000 from a few hundred before the spill, according to the Associated Press. `` We 're seeing a lot more high-end jewelry , '' says owner . Recession is changing stereotypes often linked to pawnshops , he says .