Monday, July 2, 2007
July 4th — Independence, freedom, barbecues, picnics and parades. They define the holiday.
And fireworks — just as long as we agree to set them off outside Ohio. Sure.
The aisles of Phantom Fireworks in Beaver Township were like shopping malls the day after Thanksgiving, packed with customers willing to empty their wallets and fill their shopping carts to the brim.
Staples like bottle rockets and Roman candles were joined by one of this year’s favorites: the Pyro Pulverizer, a 500-gram repeater retailing at $225 for a three-piece case.
Flooded with men, women and children of all ages, maneuvering through the store was no easy task, as hundreds upon hundreds of dollars were invested by customers who planned on celebrating the Fourth with bright colors and loud noises, regardless of what the Ohio Revised Code has to say about it.
“Our average sale is probably between $300 to $400,” said Brad Calhoun, a manager at Phantom, referring to the sales per customer from Saturday to Monday.
For the complete story, see Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com.