South Salem Community Advantage Magazine October 2023

COMMUNITY ADVANTAGE

The Trading Place

Elite Buyers NW has what you want

By Olive Gallagher, Contributing Writer

Photos by Laurel Bice

When one hears the words “pawn shop,” many of us, conditioned for decades primarily by films, probably envision a dark out-of-the-way shop where folks, down on their luck or desperate, are forced to part with the last valuable thing they own in order to survive. Even in “It’s a Wonderful Life” there’s no pawn shop on the lovely main street in Bedford Falls; but in George Bailey’s nightmare, there’s the grim storefront of a seedy pawn shop on the main street in Pottersville.

Well, throw that perception out of the window and make a visit to Elite Buyers NW, owned by Bryan Fitzgerald. Now with two locations—one that opened in 2019 in West Salem and won a 2020 Best New Business Award, and another one in Lancaster—what you’ll find will be a pleasant surprise.

Entering either location, you’ll find a well-lit interior with good music playing in the background, and polite, helpful folks dedicated to providing quality service on a “first name” basis. And Bryan is always there, ready to make a good deal and buy, sell or trade pretty much anything from rare Pokemon cards to DVDs, jewelry, silverware or firearms. He also has on hand, in any given moment, brand new things that come to him from a variety of above-board sources. He gets continuous calls asking for items and never knows what’s

going to walk through the door—a part of the business he loves. He also on occasion ends up with somewhat odd pieces, including a gun rack made up of deer hooves.

Today, he trades in what he says “are the things folks want, not the things they need.” He also finds that folks who are desperate make up a very small percentage of his customer base, as well as those who want to sell the literal shirt off their back.

Bryan was born in Salem into a small, close-knit family. From his childhood, he loved to collect baseball cards and go to garage sales. Raised primarily by a single mom, he earned a criminal justice associate degree and worked in juvenile corrections in Woodburn. He loved that work, having considered himself an “at risk” kid himself. Today, he’s married with two children, two dogs and five cats, and is dedicated to his family and his customers.

That background helped form the value systems that guide him today, particularly in the way he handles the purchase or selling of firearms. He works closely with the Salem Police and every item carries a serial number. Bryan also works within a software that tracks every transaction. Each sale or purchase is with someone with proper identification, and every night, reports go into the police department regarding each purchase or sale. Every purchase also has a two-week waiting period while the item is cross-checked with law enforcement.

Stop in for a great shopping experience at Elite Buyers NW. For more information, please call the West Salem store at 503-339-7594, the Lancaster location at 503-689-1755, or visit elitebuyersnwpawnshop.com.

CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION

Come to MWNW and help support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation!

Celebrating 28 years in business, locally-owned and -operated Mattress World Northwest (MWNW) carries the largest selection that will fit your needs best, and the only store with the 4 major sleeping technologies: GelFlex Grid, TEMPUR® foam, Air, and Natural Latex. They carry major brands like: Tempur-Pedic®, Purple™, The Number Bed by Instant Comfort®, and Posh+Lavish™ Natural Latex. They’re all in-store, side-by-side, for your convenience! And they guarantee the lowest price and have a 90-night comfort guarantee, so you can take home a better night’s sleep with confidence. Their employees love working here and will always greet you with a smile, listen to your needs and concerns and give you a great buying experience. On average, team members have worked here for 5+ years, and their management team 10+ years, so you know they are committed to this company and making their customers happy.

Get A Better Night’s Sleep

At the heart of their business lie three core values. First, is their sincere dedication to helping every customer get a better night’s sleep. They have the largest selection of name brand mattresses and specialty mattresses in the Northwest, from handmade to 100% natural latex, as well as adjustable frames. They carry every type of mattress for every type of sleeper!

Happy Employees, Happy Customers

Second, MWNW believes in empowering employees to live their best possible lives. Happy employees means happy customers, so you can trust you’ll be greeted with a smile and an attentive ear. Mattress purchases are done only a handful of times in our lives. That experience, good or bad, leaves a lasting impression. At MWNW, they have perfected the process to ensure that you get the best possible service and overall experience every time.

A Foundation of Philanthropy

Third, and perhaps most impor tantly, is their dedication to philanthropic work. Each and every month, MWNW supports

local charities and schools in a variety of ways. To date, they have donated over $500,000 to local high schools and other charities! Giving back to the community is an integral part of what defines this organization.

Dedicated Charitable Support

In October, all locations will be accepting donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in support of their work to provide the means to find the cure for CF and ensure that those living with the disease can live long and productive lives. MWNW is gladly donating to this benevolent cause while also raising awareness by offering to take donations on the organization’s behalf. Please help raise funds by donating online or visiting one of their local stores.

Family-owned and -operated, dedicated to providing customers with the best products at the lowest prices, and donating to and participating in their local communities – Mattress World Northwest exemplifies the very best of retail. Get a better night’s sleep and help support your community by visiting your local Mattress World Northwest location for more information, or you can order online at mattressworldnorthwest.com.

Feeling Is Believing.

WE BELIEVE OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS INDOOR ONES