Sioux Falls, South Dakota is getting its New Year’s wishes early with the announcement of the largest entertainment destination ever built in the state’s largest city. Badlands Pawn, Gold & Jewelry was unveiled today by one of Sioux Falls’ brightest business minds, Chuck Brennan. Brennan is a Sioux Falls native and founder of Dollar Loan Center, and the Brennan Rock & Roll Academy.

Badlands Pawn, Gold & Jewelry is a $15 million venture that will become one of the state’s largest tourist destinations in the heart of the newly coined “Sioux Falls Sports & Entertainment District.” Scheduled to open Thanksgiving Day, 2015, Badlands encompasses approximately 40,000 square feet and includes:

-The largest pawn shop in the Midwest with jewelry, electronics and treasures up and down every aisle and around every corner
-24-Hour, Live FM radio station, “Badlands Radio Network”
-An in-house mint that makes Badland-branded gold and silver coins and bars
-Gun shop with state-of-the-art shooting range and 14 lanes
-Tattoo parlor offering free Badlands logo tattoos
-Badlands House Band, led by legendary musician Ron Keel
-Concert stage for guests to try out their gear, complete with 300 flying guitars
-Entertainment agency, Badlands Entertainment Group
-Ticket Broker
-$1 million in gold on display, melted and imprinted at Badlands
-Filming of two Badlands-based television shows

Badlands Radio will blend several of the venue’s elements, with “Metal Cowboy” Ron Keel serving as DJ and bandleader to the Badlands House Band. Casting has already begun for six musicians and two back-up singers that will not only tour the Midwest, but also rehearse and perform on-site on the concert stage.

“We will have nickel coffee and free ice water for all our guests, keeping with the long-standing tradition started by South Dakota’s own Wall Drug,” said Chuck Brennan, founder and CEO of Badlands Gold, Pawn & Jewelry. A Sioux Falls native, Brennan is embarking on his 16th business including Dollar Loan Center which operates in four states. His Brennan Rock & Roll Academy is open in Sioux Falls and gives free music lessons to underprivileged children.

Brennan has a lifelong passion for Rock & Roll music. Before founding Dollar Loan Center in Sioux Falls, he opened and operated one of the largest Rock & Roll concert halls in the Midwest, The Blitz Ballroom. Brennan jokes, “I’ll have my first two 8 track tapes available at all times at Badlands, AC/DC’s Back in Black and Cheap Trick’s Live at Budokan.”
“This is my hometown, and my home state, so when I developed the concept for Badlands three years ago, I knew I wanted its home to be right here,” he said. “The team and I are confident that this will be the most successful venture we have put together.  I have never been so excited!”

Badlands Pawn, Gold & Jewelry has appointed Brennan’s long-time project manager Steve Przybocki general manager, Innovative Design & Management the project’s architect and Jamison Construction the project’s builders. Seth and Les Gold of TruTV’s “Hardcore Pawn” will serve as project consultants.  “I have never had a customer that puts so much pride in having their buildings just perfect for their customers,” said Randy Jamison of Jamison Construction.

Badlands Pawn, Gold & Jewelry is the first major development to break ground in Sioux Falls’ new Sports & Entertainment District since the 12,000 seat Denny Sanford Premier Center opened earlier this year.  “This is exactly the type of major, multi-million dollar redevelopment and private investment we envisioned in this area when we identified the Sioux Falls Sports & Entertainment District,” said Darrin Smith, Director of Community Development for the City of Sioux Falls. “Getting what will become one of the state’s largest and most unique tourist attractions is an incredible boost, and there is much, much more already in the works and on the way.”