Jewelry, pawnshop a Barberton staple more than 75 years

Jeff Newlan, left, and J. T. Masters, co-owners of Sydmor’s Jewelry & Loan, 131 Second St. NW, Barberton, stand behind the jewelry counter in the shop which has a variety of new and used jewelry as well as many other items available throughout the store. Don’t miss Sydmor’s annual sale coming up Feb. 8 just in time for Valentine’s Day. Items are up to 50 percent off at this sale event, which is only offered once a year.

By CHRISTINA McCUNE
BGNN managing editor

BARBERTON Pawnshops trace their roots back thousands of years. Full-service pawnshops are few and far between these days and this city is fortunate to have one like no other.

A bell rings pleasantly as customers walk in to the spacious well-lit jewelry store and pawnbroker’s shop at 131 Second St. NW.
They are greeted with warm smiles from behind the counters and are welcome to help themselves to freshly popped popcorn as they browse the items neatly displayed on shelves and are drawn to the impressive selection of jewelry glittering under spotless display cases.

Celebrating more than 75 years – in the same location, no less – the locally owned business has a big sale coming up Feb. 8. The once-a-year sale has items up to 50 percent off.

Without even stepping foot into the store, look up “Sydmor’s Jewelry” on Facebook for virtual tours to see all the unique things on the shelves at great prices. But it’s more fun to peer through the windows along Second Street and walk in to the store to see the latest offerings.

This year, customers and passersby can look for the landmark business sporting a new look. Co-owners Jeff Newlan and J. T. Masters have renovation plans for 2025 including updating lighting and flooring, as well as painting the exterior.

RICH HISTORY
Sydmor’s is the amalgamated name of founding brothers: Morris and Sydney Cohen. The brothers opened their business in 1939 on E Market Street in Akron, according to an Akron Beacon Journal story printed when the Barberton store celebrated 50 years. Ten years later, Morris opened the Barberton location. Sydney was shot and killed January 1975 in the Akron store, which closed two years later.
Morris Cohen, a founding member of the Ohio Pawnbrokers Association, continued running the Barberton store for decades, the ABJ story states. He eventually turned the store over to his son-in-law Tom Treiber.

Newlan noted that back in the 1940s and 1950s after World War II, people traveled and wanted to look good doing so. Sydmor’s originally had a successful business selling and repairing luggage, along with selling jewelry and serving as a pawnshop.

“Fancy suitcases were a thing so they got into the luggage business,” Newland said. “It was a pawn shop all along, but they added a luggage line.”

Nearly four years ago, longtime employee Jeff Newlan and J. T. Masters took over. They renamed the store Sydmor’s Jewelry & Loan.
The store seems to stay busy every day that it’s open. Over the decades the store has grown and expanded and evolved with the times.
“We have some people come in here four, five days a week,” Newlan said.

Newlan, of Marshallville, began working at Sydmor’s as a young man as one of his first jobs more than 30 years ago. The hardware store the Chippewa grad was working at closed and he applied at Sydmor’s even though he wasn’t familiar with the pawnshop concept.
Little did he know he would one day own the store that has become a staple in Barberton. Now, he serves generations of customers who are looking for particular items for themselves or as gifts.

Co-owner J. T. Masters began working at Sydmor’s in 2010 thanks to his wife, Sarah, who had been working at the Ravenna location. Customers may have seen their young children hanging out at the store from time to time. Also, Newlan’s grown children have helped at the store over the years.

TREASURES SOLD AND STORED
Besides selling new and used items – everything from jewelry and firearms to musical instruments to electronics to lawn equipment – Sydmor’s offers loans on a variety of items. An average loan is about $180. People must supply an ID when pawning items and every item is uploaded to law enforcement in case the item happens to be reported as stolen – which is rare.

Masters said what he finds many people don’t realize is that to pawn something doesn’t mean you’re selling it.

“The biggest thing that nobody seems to know is that a pawn is actually a loan,” he said.

A pawn is a collateral loan that customers borrow against. Sydmor’s offers quick cash for items and can securely store people’s items safely away for a short amount of time or even years if they desire as they pay back the loan. Rates are regulated by the State of Ohio Division of Consumer Finance. Loans can be as little as $5 or $10 or as much as $25,000. Sydmor’s is a member of the National Pawnbroker Association, Ohio Pawnbrokers Association and Barberton South Summit Chamber of Commerce.

Sydmor’s has many certifications and licenses including being a Federal Firearms Licensed pawnbroker, master jeweler, and staff is Gemological Institute of America trained. Background checks are conducted on everyone who purchases a firearm.

Masters said what he enjoys most about working at Sydmor’s is seeing what rare and unusual items come through the shop’s doors from Championship rings to rare firearms.

Sydmor’s has an extensive collection of used handguns and Masters said he is interested in seeing the variety of types and models that he hasn’t seen before.

“No day is the same. Cool stuff comes in. You never know what’s going to walk through the door,” he said.
Sydmor’s is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Visit https://sydmorsbarberton.com. Check out Sydmor’s Facebook page for updates. Call 330-753-6812.