Featured Merchants

April 15th, 2010

Free Food!
Free Soft Drinks!
Music! All Celebrating “Cruisin’ Grand!”

Mack Hembree, the genial owner of Gems N’ Loans, has decided to jump into the ‘Cruisin’ Grand’ phenomenon big time.

“We know Cruisin’ Grand is a major downtown marketing program and it’s proven itself as a successful means of bringing North County folks to downtown Escondido. We want to be part of that effort and associate ourselves with all the other wonderful downtown merchants of Escondido.”

To that end, Hembree has ordered a large shipment of hotdogs, buns, condiments, soft drinks, and will offer them absolutely free with no obligation whatsoever.

“Anyone who wants a hotdog and a soft drink, they’re welcome to come on by. It’s our pleasure to meet them, say hello, and see that they don’t go away hungry,” Hembree went on.

Naturally, Hembree would be pleased to have visitors also stop by his store, Gems N’ Loans at 340 W. 2nd Avenue in downtown Escondido.

Hembree is active in the community with all three of his stores. In addition to the Escondido location, he has Gems N’ Loans stores in both Vista and Oceanside.

“We just believe in getting involved with our community,” said Hembree. “We want people to know, as part of their business community, that we’re here to help the community whenever we are able. We look for a large turnout every Friday for our free hot dogs and soft drinks. The music should draw them in . . . and I’m pretty sure the aroma of freshly cooked hot dogs will bring them in as well. We get a fair amount of traffic during ‘Cruisin’ Grand’ as we are only about 1/2 block away from Grand Avenue where the main pedestrian traffic is as they take in the show.”

Hembree and his staff have been credited with bringing the pawn shop business into mainstream America with their spotlessly clean interiors, well lit, well decorated, and with a staff that is well trained and bilingual.

Cruisin’ Grand runs every Friday night throught the summer in downtown Escondido.