Roots in a Garage Spark a Stamping Empire (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Las Vegas – Tucked away near the bustling Strip, a specialty shop offers an unparalleled array of rubber stamps that has captivated hobbyists for decades.
Roots in a Garage Spark a Stamping Empire
Wayne Gartley launched what became Viva Las VegaStamps in 1991 from his garage.[1][2] He crafted stamps initially for personal projects and other firms. By 1993, Gartley opened the first retail space on Decatur between Sahara and Charleston. The business relocated to its current spot at 1008 E. Sahara Ave. in 2000.[1]
Gartley, known as Stampo, passed away in 2024 at age 81. His nephew, Jeff Gartley, stepped in around 2008 and now manages operations full time. The store earned a nod in the book “111 Places in Las Vegas That You Must Not Miss” by Mackenzie Jervis and photographer Kaitlyn Kelsey.[1] This family-driven venture transformed a niche passion into a landmark for stamp enthusiasts.
Over 20,000 Designs Claim the Top Spot
Craft aficionados enter a realm boasting more than 20,000 unique stamps from over 1,500 plates, positioning Viva Las VegaStamps as the world’s largest manufacturer by variety.[1][2] Prices range from $1 buckets to $20 pieces, with $2 and $5 options abundant. Themes span holidays, weddings, baby showers, and whimsical niches like “The Wizard of Oz” complete with ruby slippers.
Antique ads peddling mercury or arsenic sit alongside food motifs such as chocolate and coffee. Playful quips declare “I would stop buying rubber stamps but I’m no quitter!” or “We’re all bozos on this bus!” The team crafts sayings in Photoshop, often drawing from Gartley’s originals. Global artists contribute designs, including Mary Vogel Lozinak’s fanciful characters; some receive stamps as payment to resell.[1]
- Holiday collections available year-round
- Occasion-specific sets for celebrations
- Eccentric phrases for personal flair
- Vintage ad reproductions
- Pop culture nods like ruby slippers
Vulcanizers and Neon Bring Vegas Flair
Visitors navigate aisles under a ceiling of authentic neon signs amid Las Vegas memorabilia and wall art. The stamp production unfolds in-house: designs affix to magnesium boards, rubber vulcanizes into shape, cushions glue on, and pieces mount to wood blocks. Jeff Gartley noted the painstaking build-up: “Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was this massive collection.”[1]
Foot traffic ebbs and flows, with quiet days seeing just a handful of shoppers. Online sales via the website dominate, sustaining loyal patrons who return after 20 years. The zany interior fosters an immersive escape for browsers and serious collectors alike.
Social Media Ignites a Fresh Wave of Fans
A dedicated base of “stampers” sustains the business, bolstered by 6,000 Facebook followers and 3,000 on Instagram.[1] Recent virality amplified reach. TikTok videos and an Instagram influencer’s visit spiked in-store visits over the past two years. Jeff Gartley observed, “We have something go viral, then we got a lot of people coming to the store for a couple weeks after that. A lot of them aren’t stampers, but they still came in and shopped.”[1]
Local creator EJ Gonzalez, who runs Shop Mama Sage and the sold-out Junk Journal Club Las Vegas, stumbled upon the store through a Chicago visitor. Her TikTok garnered 6,000 likes and 44,000 views, featuring buys like a showgirls stamp and one proclaiming “whimsy.” Gonzalez captured the allure: “Why did I not know this place existed? It’s overwhelming in the best way.”[1] She highlighted a broader shift: “Everyone’s trying to find slower hobbies. There’s something powerful about creating something with your hands.”[1]
Key Takeaways
- Viva Las VegaStamps holds the record for stamp variety at over 20,000 designs.
- Family legacy spans three decades, fueled by in-house manufacturing.
- Viral social content merges tradition with modern discovery.
This enduring haven proves handmade crafts endure in a digital age, blending Vegas eccentricity with timeless creativity. What hidden gems have you uncovered in Las Vegas? Share in the comments.
