YOUNGSTOWN Fireworks store takes off in Pennsylvania

B.J. Alan says it is ready to compete with the new store just across the state line.
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- Like the pop of firecrackers on summer nights just before July 4, the name of Sky King Fireworks seems to be everywhere in Mahoning County.
The fireworks retailer last week opened a new store just off U.S. Route 224 in Hillsville, Pa., and has blanketed neighboring Ohio communities with 100,000 direct mail brochures and 20 billboards.
"If we can just get people to come over here, they would buy here," said Vito Yeropoli, vice president of Sky King Fireworks of Pennsylvania.
One Youngstown man certainly found the store to his liking. The man, who didn't want to give his name, was at the store one day last week buying $2,800 worth of fireworks.
New building
Yeropoli said he's confident the store will have many other customers because of the products it carries and the store itself. The new building has air conditioning, six checkout aisles, shopping carts and a paved parking lot.
The company spent $650,000 to build the store, which will be open year-round.
Just across the state line, B.J. Alan Co. is confident it will withstand the targeting of Mahoning County residents. William Weimer, general counsel for Youngstown-based B.J. Alan, said its Phantom Fireworks stores in Youngstown and near Columbiana will do well because of their products and prices.
"When people shop around, we believe people will come back to Phantom," he said.
He said B.J. Alan, which has 31 fireworks stores, competes with Sky King in other areas of the country.
Richard Naples Jr., another local fireworks retailer, said having Sky King in the area helps all retailers because it runs a quality operation, which boosts the industry's image. Naples and his father own Wholesale Fireworks, which has stores in Hubbard, Niles and Canton.
Confusing laws
The industry suffers from confusing laws that make fireworks legal to buy but not to use, Naples said. As more fireworks are sold through large retail stores, instead of back rooms or garages, more people will be inclined to buy them, he said.
"With Sky King coming in, it promotes fireworks as a great way to celebrate the nation's birthday," he said.
Yeropoli said there's room for another retailer because the market for fireworks sales is increasing.
B.J. Alan provided federal import statistics that show 153 million pounds of fireworks were used in this country in 2000, compared with 68 million pounds in 1990.
Other area fireworks retailers are Midwest Fireworks in Deerfield and a store operated by Michael Fasline in Pulaski, Pa. Owners of the two outlets could not be reached to comment.
Sky King was started by Ronald Carabbia Jr., a Youngstown native who spends much of the year in Florida overseeing the Port St. Lucie, Fla.-based company. It operates 10 stores in Florida and one in Indiana.
Carabbia also is president of Sky King Fireworks of Pennsylvania, a separate company from the Florida operation.
Couldn't open here
Carabbia said he opened just across the state line because he was frustrated that he couldn't open a store in Ohio. State legislators have enacted a moratorium on new fireworks stores.
He said he picked Hillsville as a store site because it is two miles from the state line. While Pennsylvania fireworks stores are prohibited from selling to in-state residents, they can sell to out-of-state residents.
"It's great for Mahoning County and Trumbull County residents that they can have more selection," he said.
Customers must show a driver's license before buying, Yeropoli said.
In Ohio, anyone who buys fireworks at an Ohio store must sign a form that says they will take the fireworks to another state.
The store's opening in Hillsville has caused a stir in Mahoning Township, where Yeropoli is an elected supervisor. The other supervisors have been concerned about a lack of regulations so they are drawing up legislation that would restrict the location of fireworks stores and establish building criteria, such as how close a store could be to a street.
Yeropoli, who also is a sales representative for Cellular One, said his business would not be affected by the regulations because it already is in existence. He said he is proud of the look of his building and doesn't think its location is hurting the township.
shilling@vindy.com