Fred Adkinson is the first to tell you that the prominent signs on the front of his pawn shop draw in a lot of new business each week.

“Jesus Saves” reads one posted in front of AAA Pawn Shop on McClellan Boulevard in Anniston.

And next to the Christian message: “We Buy Guns.”

“I had those signs put up two or three years ago,” said Adkinson. “I even had a gentleman who stopped from Connecticut riding through the country to take pictures of the shop.”

Adkinson laughed.

Yeah, the signs attract a lot of customers, but what keeps them coming back, Adkinson said, is a simple business philosophy.

“We just try to treat people with respect and dignity. A lot of people come in here and hurting through no fault of their own,” he said. “We’ll work with them … to help them borrow money or pledge merchandise like a gun or a TV.”



Pawn shop

1. AAA Pawn Shop, 5910 McClellan Blvd., Anniston, 256-820-4697.

2. (tie) Quintard Jewelry & Pawn, 1920 Quintard Ave., Anniston, 256-236-7696

2. (tie) 144 Pawn Shop, 8310 Alabama 144, Alexandria, 256-892-3144

2. (tie) 202 Pawn Shop, 6050 Alabama 202, Anniston, 256-237-4202

Convenience store

1. Mapco, www.mapcoexpress.com.

2. Grub Mart, 425 Quintard Drive, Oxford, 256-831-5193; 5333 U.S., Alexandria, 256-820-1615; 420 Pelham Road North, Jacksonville, 256-782-0007.

3. Chevron, www.chevron.com.

Discount store

1. Dollar General, www.dg.com.

2. Walmart, www.walmart.com.

3. Target, 400 Oxford Exchange Blvd., Oxford, 256-231-2900, www.target.com.

Rental center

1. Aaron’s, www.aarons.com.

2. Rent-A-Center, www.rentacenter.com.

Pet store

1. PetSmart, 70 Oxford Exchange Blvd., Oxford, 256-832-1290.

2. Pickette’s Feed & Pet, 3200 McClellan Blvd., Anniston, 256-237-3355; 1822 Highway 78 E., Oxford, 256-835-4942, www.pickettesfeedandpet.com.

3. PetCo, 308 E. Meighan Blvd., Gadsden, 256-547-6696, petco.com.

Office supply store

1. Office Max, 620 Quintard Ave., Anniston, 256-238-8691; 900 Oxford Exchange Blvd., Oxford, 256-831-1944.

2. Crawford Office Supply, 301 S. Leighton Ave., Anniston; 256-237-3310.

3. Office Depot, www.officedepot.com.

Computer dealer

1. Matt’s Computer and Wifi, 1590 Pelham Road S. Jacksonville, 256-435-2522.

2. Best Buy, 1100 Oxford Exchange Blvd., Oxford, 256-832-0172, www.bestbuy.com.

3. Office Max, 620 Quintard Ave., Anniston, 256-238-8691; 900 Oxford Exchange Blvd., Oxford, 256-831-1944.

Photo studio

1. Jerrod Brown Studios, 1820 28th Ave. S., Homewood, 256-525-6503, www.jerrodbrown.com

2. Studio One Photography, 1313 Christine Ave., Anniston, 256-237-1502, www.studiooneanniston.com.

3. Stacks of Photos, www.stacksofphotos.com.

Veterinarian clinic

1. Animal Medical Center, 719 Quintard Ave., Anniston, 256-236-8387, www.amcvets.com

2. Greenbrier Animal Clinic, 725 Greenbrier-Dear Rd, Anniston 256-237-9585

3. Cheaha Animal Hospital, 915 Snow St., Oxford, 256-831-5768

Funeral home

1. Miller Funeral Home & Crematory, 110 E. Hamric Drive, Oxford, 256-831-4611

2. K L Brown Memory Chapel, 620 Golden Springs Road, Anniston, 256-231-2334

3. Gray Brown-Service Mortuary & Crematory, 1329 Wilmer Ave., Anniston, 256-236-3441

Child care

1. Kids First Childcare Center, 1710 Hillyer-Robinson Industrial Parkway, Anniston, 256-831-8881.

2. Childcare Network, 1425 Hillyer-Robinson Industrial Parkway, Anniston, 256-831-9746.

3. Meadowbrook Abundant Childcare, 1125 Meadowbrook Court, Oxford, 256-831-6877, www.mbcoxford.org.

Commercial printing

1. Moore Printing, 1025 Gurnee Ave., Anniston, 256-236-6713

2. Minuteman Press, 122 E. 19th St., Anniston, 256-236-1237

3. Sharp Binding & Printing Co., 546 Valley Cub Dr., Alexandria, 256-820-1337.

Travel agency

1. R&R Travel Service, 407 Choccolocco St., Oxford, 256-831-2323

2. AAA-Alabama, 653 Snow St., Oxford, 256-832-3101

3. B&B Travel, 3805 Rainbow Drive, Rainbow City, 256-413-0701, 800-416-4419 www.bbvacations.com.

Rental center

1. Aaron’s, www.aarons.com.

2. Rent-A-Center, www.rentacenter.com.

Dry cleaners

1. Smith Cleaners, 1002 US Highway 431 # A, 256-820-8884

2. Mike’s Romac Cleaners, 635 Creekside Drive, Oxford, 256-831-5002

3. Stewart Cleaners, 121 E. 11th St., Anniston, 256-237-1671.

Cellular sales

1. Verizon, www.verizonwireless.com

2. AT&T, www.att.com/wireless

3. Boost Mobile, www.boostmobile.com.

Gift shop

1. The Rabbit Hutch, 1026 Noble St., Anniston, 256-236-5541.

2. Tyson Art and Frame, 3326 Henry Road, Anniston, 256-236-9910

3. Lynn’s Hallmark, 700 Quintard Drive, Oxford, 256-835-0699.

Florist

1. Evans Flower Shop & Gifts, 1014-B Noble St., Anniston, 256-236-2589.

2. Miller Florist & Gifts, 50 E. Hamric Drive, Oxford, 256-835-0911.

3. Weaver Flower Shop, 601 Astor Ave., Weaver, 256-820-2593.