Las Vegas sign company expanding its offerings

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Bogar Enterprises LLC, the makers of those infamous desktop Welcome to Las Vegas signs, is expanding its offerings.

The southwest Las Vegas-based company has added a musical Elvis Presley-inspired sign, featuring the legend standing under the Welcome to Las Vegas sign; the VEGAS sign, with the word in an arrow -- the Vegas.com signature; and the Welcome Night Lights. They also are working on adding the Elvis '68 Comeback Special sign, an Elvis sign reminiscent of the marquee bearing his name during his 1968 comeback show on NBC. It will play approximately 40 seconds of "Don't Be Cruel."

The original sign sits on Las Vegas Boulevard and reads "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada." The sign was constructed in 1959.

Bogar president and owner Bob McMonigle said the company had been thinking about incorporating Elvis into its signs for a while, but the licensing and approvals took some time.

"It all finally came together a couple of weeks ago," McMonigle said. "When you push the button, it sings 'Viva Las Vegas.' And it has an Elvis under the Welcome to Las Vegas sign."

The sign based on the singing legend's comeback tour is expected to be available around the first of year, McMonigle said.

"There is more of a national market for the Elvis sign," he said. "Graceland will be carrying the (Elvis '68 Comeback) signs."

The night lights, which currently are on the market, are smaller versions of the Welcome to Las Vegas signs.

The suggested retail prices of the signs are $9.95 for the Welcome Night Light; $49.95 for the Elvis '68 Comeback Special and the Welcome Viva Las Vegas signs; $39.95 for the original Welcome to Las Vegas sign; and $29.95 for the VEGAS sign.

"No similar products exist, and we are confident the products will become just as popular as our original sign," McMonigle said.

Paula Delana, a manager at Bonanza's Gift agreed that the signs are unique.

"Every time we get them, we sell out," Delana said. "We always have them, but they always sell out. Generally, it's tourists."

The signs are sold at local hotels, casinos, gift shops and Walgreens.