With RI's Legalized Fireworks Catching On, Dealers Say Business Is Booming

The Fourth of July is just days away and—given the dramatic increase in availability since last summer when they were first legalized—there's no shortage of places to buy fireworks for the big backyard celebrations.

Now into the state's second summer for certain legalized fireworks, dozens of temporary retail sites have been set up to sell the hot product, while many stores now carry a display stand of some sort offering ground sparklers of varying styles.

On Aquidneck Island this summer, two nationwide retailers have set up temporary stores dedicated solely to selling the fireworks.

The largest and most visible is the tent located in the Barnes and Noble parking lot at 1311 West Main Road in Middletown. Last year TNT set up its operation inside the vacant Linens n' Things at the same plaza, but this year that space was occupied by Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom" film crew for a sound stage.

“This is the biggest TNT tent on the east coast. It’s 40 feet by 40 feet and contains over 100 different items," said Finley Walker of TNT. "There are 28 to 30 of our locations in the state. Last year we only had two or three because last year was the first year it was legal in Rhode Island."

According to Walker, TNT Fireworks sells more than 60 percent of all fireworks in the United States.

“We have six categories all together. First we have fountains and they go from small to very large. Then we have sparklers, spinners, smokers, and novelties like tanks, snakes, and turtles. TNT makes everything you can think of except M80s. Those are illegal on the federal level,” stated Walker.

As far as state and federal regulations go, there are vast differences.

“New Hampshire, you can buy and sell aerials and you can set them off. Rhode Island and Connecticut you can have fireworks but no aerials and no firecrackers. In New York and Massachuetts everything is illegal,” he said.

Some of these differences even seem rather strange.

“Pennsylvania you can buy and sell. But Pennsylvanian residences cannot use fireworks. So you have be from out of state, come to Pennsylvania, buy them and bring them back to your own state to use them. In Virginia, you cannot buy or sell fireworks but you can go buy them in another state and bring them back to use them,” he said.

Although it may seem expensive to see your money go up in a big bang and a bunch of smoke there are reasons for this.

“Fireworks are pretty inexpensive to make but all the regulations, permits, fees, licenses and special transportation costs to move them all adds up,” said Walker.

He also said there are added precautions too.

The Fire Marshal has been here several times and told use to move tables apart and separate the merchandise because there can only be so much in a square foot at any one time,” Walker said.

Down the street at 741 West Main Road, Phantom Fireworks also has a tent.

It may be smaller but don’t let the size fool you.

John Dulmaine of Phantom Fireworks can sell you a very large package of fireworks.

“I can’t wait to sell this to someone this week. The package weighs 27 kilograms and has many different fountain fireworks. It says it will last 5 to 6 hours. That’s a very long time. You would have to start in morning on July Fourth and set them off all day,” said Dulmaine.

But Phantom has smaller individual fountain fireworks at good prices.

“Someone can come in here and get a whole bunch of different stuff for under $30. People really like doing that with the kids on the Fourth,” he said.