Is Bonanza Gift Shop Truly the World's Largest?

How many times have I seen the sign claiming that the Bonanza Gift Shop is "the world's largest"? Is it really? And how long has it been there?

We can't really say. The "World's Largest Gift Shop" is a claim that is so broad, it's probably impossible to prove.

We did a quick search and found a place called The World's Largest Gift Store in Phillipsburg, Missouri, but for the life of us, we couldn't determine how many square feet it is. Even calling the place failed to turn up a number.

On the other hand, it's well known that the Bonanza Gift Shop is 40,000 square feet, which is definitely cavernous, slightly less than a acre of indoor space; two of them would almost fill the average-sized Home Depot.

Our historical research took us back to 1971, when a casino called The Big Wheel, whose big round marquee has been retained ever since, albeit with successive customizations, opened at 2440 Las Vegas Blvd. South, at the northwest corner of Sahara. Apparently, it operated under that name for about two years, advertising 25-cent craps, 50-cent blackjack, "free beer," and "free champagne." The Wheel, as it was commonly known, closed in 1974.

The property's next incarnation, which retained the same big round signage, albeit drastically modified, was as the Center Fold, a casino with a live topless cabaret that operated under that name from 1975 until '77, when it became the Jolly Trolley. The Jolly Trolley featured male strippers as well as female; it closed in 1978, then reopened in 1981 for less than a year, according to sources we've read, before closing for good.

Bonanza Gift Shop opened in 1980, when it took over a small casino called Honest John's at 2460 Las Vegas Blvd. S., then expanded at some point into the Jolly Trolley location at 2440.

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Comments

Wally May-31-2021

Largest

I have noticed for years that both Bonanza in Vegas and the Gay Dolphin Gift Cove in Myrtle Beach claimed the mantle of "world's largest". Until today, I was never incentivized to do the research. A quick Wiki search reveals Gay Dolphin to be only 26,000 sq ft. All hail Bonanza, world's largest purveyor of crap until proven otherwise.

Ronald May-31-2021

WLGS-Missouri version

I've been in both Bonanza & the one in Missouri. The one in MO is a rectangular metal building 100 x 300ft or 30,000 sqft.  All hail Bonanza!

Kevin Lewis May-31-2021

It's not the size, it's how you use it

The relevant question is, what gift shop has the most dice clocks in the world? Bonanza is the clear winner!

Jeffrey Small May-31-2021

Jolly Trolley

I guess I'm one of the few that remembers the Jolly Trolley!  The 99 cent half pound burgers (with sides) made it a hangout for my local friends.  As I recall they put in a little stage and had a strip show in the back (east side of the building), so you could play the slots while you saw the dancer.  Then the local authorities told them that they had to put a curtain around the "strip area" so that the public couldn't see the show--so you had to go into an enclosed area to view the show.  They also had a few blackjack tables installed on the east side of the building.  By the early 80's, as you said, the Trolley, and their bargain food, went to the great railyard in the sky!

Jeffrey Small May-31-2021

Trolley, contd.

Sorry--the strip show area was on the West side of the building....

alanbalmer May-31-2021

Wall Drugs in South Dakota

Brings to mind Wall Drugs in South Dakota.  If you've ever made the drive across country through South Dakota, about two hundred miles before you reach Wall Drugs, billboads appear advertising Wall Drugs gift store.  There's at a minimum, a couple of thousand signs along the roadside encouraging you to stop.  Just checked Google to discover Wall Drugs is eighty thousand square feet ... twice the size of Bonanza.  Can't say it's anywhere as colorful.  Wall Drugs was equally disappointing as it was big.  One trip there will be more than enough in my lifetime.

jlgraham1958 May-31-2021

Love It

I love this place.  I always find something I don't need!  HAHA, but seriously they have everything Vegas related!

bobd46 May-31-2021

Wall Drug

Wall Drug is not really a gift shop, rather it is more of a strip mall with a drug store, a cafe (and other restaurants) a boot store, and many others including, yes, a gift shop.

Nellisned May-31-2021

The best

place to buy rubber chickens, fake puke, fake dog poo and also a fifth of your favorite poison. Plus moccasins. I send lot's of tourists there!

Bucky May-31-2021

Money Tree

I remember a casino named The Money Tree next door to the Jolly Trolley at that time.

Question of the Day - 31 May 2021

Comments