[Editor's Note: Today, we have a special treat for long-time QoDers -- a post from the QoDmother herself! Jessica has always been into retro Vegas, is now back in the UK buying and selling vintage homewares, and she graciously answered this question for us. She says, "I wish I'd purchased a lot more back in the day, when there were still amazing deals to be had. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!" In the answer, you'll no doubt recognize Jessica's inimitable voice, which many of us miss and always will. But if you go to her
Instagram page, you can see some of the vintage art, furniture, and quirky collectibles she's into -- and as a bonus, a few photos of Pookie, the coolest cat (of the feline persuasion) ever. There's also a link there to her Facebook page. Thank you and take it, Jessica!]
It's a crying shame that Las Vegas took so long to realize the future value -- both cultural and monetary -- of its stylish past, and that so many treasures from decades past have ended up in landfills. (Future archaeologists should have a field day when they excavate and unearth the original signage from the Stardust!) Fortunately, not all is lost and in the past couple of decades Sin City has discovered a new respect for its iconic history. Hence, there's still a wealth of cool collectible stuff up for grabs, if you know where to look.
You can pick up a free copy of the "Antiques Alley" map you mention from any of the stores referenced below, and from plenty of other venues in the Arts District.)
Sadly, some of the pioneering vendors downtown, like the Funk House and Modify, are no longer with us. Nevertheless, there remain plenty of rich pickings for anyone in search of casino collectibles specifically, or cool vintage style in general, from more than 20 different stores.
This question is particularly timely as, after nine years, escalating overhead is forcing Lost Vegas (625 S. Las Vegas Blvd., open 10 am to 6 pm, daily) to close. The last day of business will be New Year's Eve, but from now until then, they're holding an "everything-must-go" sale, with deals galore. The stock is diverse, but skews toward Las Vegas/casino memorabilia and collectibles, with cabinets full of authentic items from iconic properties past and present, including the Stardust, Moulin Rouge, Plaza, Las Vegas Club, Aladdin, El Rancho, El Cortez, Silver City, Tropicana, and Caesars Palace. Available objects range from matchbooks, cocktail stirrers, postcards, casino chips, ashtrays, and dice to photographs, show programs, signage, table felts, and slot machines. There's also a lot of general vintage (and reproduction) Americana for sale, plus some contemporary kitsch -- if you're looking for an inflatable alien, look no further! The shop is housed in a small, stand-alone, cube-shaped building and the whole exterior has been expertly graffiti'd with iconic Vegas imagery, so it offers a great photo opportunity, even if you don't venture inside.
If you're in the market for fashionable mid-century modern furniture and homewares, Vintage Vegas (1229 S. Main Street; 10 am to 5 pm daily, Sun. 11 am to 5 pm) and Retro Vegas (1131 S. Main Street; 11 am to 6 pm daily, Sun. noon to 5 pm) both offer an eclectic mix of authentic quality items, harking back to the Rat Pack era and after. Bar stools, sofas, chairs, tables, dining sets, lighting, artwork, signage, kitchenalia, and general funky ephemera are all available at fair prices (although over the past couple of years, I've noticed a significant rise, reflecting the buoyant market and thriving downtown tourist scene). Shipping can generally be arranged, for a fee, and note that Retro Vegas also has a second floor, home to the Red Kat vintage clothing and accessories (one of several such stores located downtown).
Other personal favorites include: Sin City Pickers (10 W. Wyoming Ave, open daily from 10 am to 5 pm); Main Street Peddlers (770 S. Main Street; Mon-Sat, 10 am to 5 pm, closed Sun.); Not Just Antiques (1422 Western Ave; 10:30 am to 5:30 pm, closed Sun.); and Charleston Antique Mall (560 S. Decatur, next to Arizona Charlie's; 10 am to 6 pm daily, Sat. 10 am to 5 pm). All are large vintage/antiques collectives, with multiple dealers housed under one roof offering an array of collectibles, and are where you're likely to find better prices. (It's always worth inquiring about a deal, especially if you're purchasing more than one item from the same vendor; the standard mark-down is 10% on a price of $20 or more, but the more you spend, the bigger the discount you may be able to negotiate.)
In addition, if you have your own transport and are open to venturing farther afield, it's always worth checking out the "Antiques" section of Craigslist Las Vegas, where you can find all manner of quirky collectibles and genuine antiques, from imported Asian furniture to neon signage, old slot machines to rustic kitchenware, vintage comics and vinyl records to jukeboxes and luggage, and a lot more besides. I've scored some great deals over the years and along the way spotted myriad weird and wonderful items, including an antique set of English jockey's weighing-in scales and what purported to be an original 18th century Scottish brothel sign (both of which were priced at $5,000, if memory serves. History didn't relate how either had ended up in Las Vegas ...).
Happy hunting!
