Three Fingers Eddie: Selling Fireworks Since 1960

It seems like naming a fireworks stand “Three Fingers Eddie,” would risk scaring away potential customers. Not so, said employee Jim Fox of the seasonal Three Fingers Eddie in Pawcatuck.

“People come in and ask, ‘who has three fingers?' ” Fox, 23, said. “I think the name encourages people to come in.”

Fox jokingly begins to tell me a story about how Eddie lost his fingers before assuring me that Eddie does in fact have all 10. Eddie, of Three Fingers Eddie, first began selling fireworks in New Hampshire in 1960 and today owns nine stores throughout New England in Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, plus several stores in Pennsylvania.

This is the second summer Fox has worked at the temporary storefront located at 27 W. Broad Street in Pawcatuck behind . He got the job through a neighbor who knew the person running the stand on the weekends and was looking for someone to open, run and close the place during the week.

After a bit of training mainly to learn the difference between the many types of fireworks the stand carries and what they do, Fox estimated he began working about 40 hours a week.

While hours vary Fox expects he’ll probably work more than 40 hours this week as the Fourth of July approaches.

“Last week was slow,” Fox said, “This week there’s been a lot of foot traffic.”

The job, he admitted, can get a bit boring as he waits for people to come into the stand, which doesn’t have a phone, but he enjoys helping the customers pick out the right fireworks for them. Being so close to the border of Rhode Island Fox assumes they get a lot of customers from over the state lines, where fireworks are also legal.

With the week expected to get busier Fox said during his time off he works out, heads to the beach and has dinner as ways to relax, and does enjoy using fireworks on his days off.

“They’re entertainment, it’s fun for the family, fun at parties,” Fox said of the fireworks he sells and uses.

His personal favorite is called “Little Big Show,” a fountain type of fireworks that is described by its maker Black Cat a fountain that “has it all—that’s why we call it ‘A fireworks Display in a Fountain.’ Watch as shell-like bursts spread across the stage.”

“It just keeps going, lots of crackling and popping, just a really nice show,” Fox said.

Unlike “Little Big Show,” which sounds like it lasts for a while, Three Fingers Eddie is open for only afew short weeks, by mid July the store will be closed until next summer and Fox will be headed back to school.

“I guess I’ll miss it,” Fox said.