B.J. Alan proposes annexation to build new fireworks store

AUSTINTOWN — A new fireworks store on Meridian Road would be a good deal for Austintown and Youngstown because it would make productive use of land that has become an illegal dumping area, a fireworks company official said.

“All we want to do is take a pretty dead area, invest money, hire people, put a business there, improve the looks, and, hopefully, stimulate some additional development,” said Atty. William Weimer, vice president and general counsel for B.J. Alan Fireworks Co., which is proposing to build the new $1.5 million Phantom Fireworks store.

Weimer spoke at a Mahoning County commissioners’ hearing today in Austintown Township Hall concerning the company’s proposal to annex the 6.4 acres of vacant land at Meridian and Lanterman roads from Austintown to Youngstown to enable the store to be built.

The company proposes to close a fireworks store in a former Greyhound bus station adjacent to B.J. Alan’s downtown Youngstown headquarters and open the new store at the Meridian Road location, where retail space would double and customers would have direct access from Interstates 80 and 680.

For the complete story, see Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com