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National Rubber Stamp Co. in Lakeview Closes Doors After 80 Years

By Kyla Gardner | December 12, 2014 6:24am
 National Rubber Stamp Co. is closing its doors after first opening in Chicago in 1933.
National Rubber Stamp Co.
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LAKEVIEW — After more than 80 years in business in Chicago, National Rubber Stamp Co. is closing its doors.

The company had been at its last location in Lakeview, 1704 W. Belmont Ave., since 1996.

Owners Donna and Wayne Heintz, of Roscoe Village, have watched West Lakeview change around them and their business.

"Just in the 18 years we've been here, things have dramatically changed," Wayne said. "All the stores are gone. They're putting in condos. When we moved in here when this was 'Antique Row.'"

Wayne, now 69, started at the company part-time in high school, sweeping up and making deliveries.

He left after he was drafted into the Vietnam War, and returned to become a manager for Rubber Stamp, eventually buying the business with Donna, now 65, in 1988.

 National Rubber Stamp Co., at 1704 W. Belmont Ave., is closing.
National Rubber Stamp Co., at 1704 W. Belmont Ave., is closing.
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DNAinfo/Kyla Gardner

The two, both born in Wisconsin but living in Chicago since childhood, met at Timber Lanes Bowling Alley on Irving Park Road.

"He was tending bar and I was bowling in a Friday night league," Donna said. The two married in 1971.

"Since '88 we've worked together, and that’s a whole different challenge in itself, working with your spouse or partner 24/7," Donna said.

"Piece of cake," Wayne added.

National Rubber Stamp Co. Inc. moved locations around Lakeview and Roscoe Village over the years, but it always drew a local clientele, Wayne said.

Individuals, banks and other businesses bought items like sealing stamps, address stamps or engraved plastic placards and signs.

Everything was made in-house, and until the business began relying on computers, stamps were made from custom molds put together from drawers and drawers of letters in all different sizes and fonts.

Today, business isn't as good as it once was, Wayne said.

"The Internet has more or less shut us down," he said.

Though Wayne will continue working for a different local stamp company, he and his wife agree they are looking forward to more family time.

"I'm going to miss it," Wayne said. "It’s been my life, but I've got three grandsons, and I'm going to enjoy them now."

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