Fireworks On The Down-Low: Indiana Retailers Do Booming Business

HAMMOND, IN -- With the Fourth of July upon us, millions of Americans are illuminating the skies over their neighborhoods with colorful starbursts or gut-thumping, eardrum-breaking blasts from salutes or maroons. Like ‘em or hate ‘em, fireworks have been an important part of celebrating American independence since the very first Fourth of July in 1777, when the citizens of Philadelphia shot off firecrackers made of black ash. Americans are expected to blow off more than 268.4 million pounds of fireworks this Fourth of July, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association, a non-profit organization that portends to be the voice of the fireworks industry with a focus on fireworks safety and education.

Indiana’s fireworks stores beckon Illinois consumers to cross the border with gaudy billboards promising the biggest bang for their buck.

“About 80 percent of our customers come from Illinois,” said Kris Zambo, one of a family of school teachers that own and operate Dynamite Fireworks and Uncle Sam’s Fireworks in Hammond.

Northwest Indiana has gained a reputation as the unofficial fireworks capital of America with 100 consumer-grade fireworks retailers, many of them crouched on the Illinois-Indiana border. Fireworks have changed over the decades from such old-time favorites as bottle rockets, firecrackers and Roman candles to new products that are higher, bigger and louder, with colorful names like Jailbait, Steel Venom, Devil’s Delight, Big Bertha, Disturbing the Peace and Bad Ass Double Break Shells, a product that shoots flaming balls.

The American Pyrotechnics Association maintains that fireworks-related injuries decreased by 43 percent between 2000 and 2016, even after states and municipalities have relaxed their consumer fireworks laws. The APA attributes this decline to industry safety education efforts and the ever-improving quality of products. Many retailers and manufacturers educate customers on what products actually do when ignited and even include video demos on products’ safe handling. [Videos of every major firework for sale along with many demonstrations]

“Fireworks have gotten a bad rap, you only hear about the nightmare stories,” Zambo said. “Everything is supersized today, but government regulations have made fireworks safer. When you shot off something big in the old days it would fall over and shoot at you. The government has given [fireworks] weight and put things like aerials in a box. Sparklers are no longer metal but on a wooden stick so you don’t burn your hand.”

While many view blowing off a couple of firecrackers and bottle rockets a Fourth of July tradition, Illinois’ Pyrotechnic Use Act prohibits the sale, possession and use of almost all consumer fireworks, prompting Illinois residents to flock to borders states including Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa where the sale of fireworks is legal. Illinois consumers caught with fireworks can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor and face fines up to $2,500, however, law enforcement is lax when it comes to the Fourth of July, unless residents get really obnoxious blowing them off or selling them illegally to friends, the APA says.

4th of July Fireworks: What's Legal, What's Not In Illinois

Patch recently visited some Indiana fireworks retailers:

Good Times Fireworks, 626 177th St, Hammond, IN - This family-owned fireworks store is located blocks from the Illinois-Indiana border and is the first exit in Indiana (Calumet South exit) off of I-80-/94 Interstate. Good Times has been in business for over 25 years and boasts five showrooms, each with its own speciality. There is even a kiddie showroom with everything from sparklers and snapping pops to monkey-driven cars propelled by shooting sparks and exploding globes, along with the big stuff. Everything is buy- one-get one free, no gimmicks. Good Times is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with extended hours leading up to July 4.

“We’re one of the biggest stores in Indiana,” said John Haluska, a former cop who owns the store with his siblings. “I get a big kick coming out here at night on the Fourth of July and seeing all the fireworks in the sky, knowing that people are lighting off fireworks they purchased at our store. I think fireworks as are big part of the Fourth of July and very festive if you use them responsibly."

Dynamite Fireworks, 4218 Calumet Ave. Hammond, IN -- Located literally at the bottom of the exit ramp off the Chicago Skyway, Dynamite Fireworks has been helping consumers -- a good many of them from Illinois -- express their patriotic fervor by staging their own backyard fireworks shows. Dynamite and sister store Uncle Sam’s Fireworks at 14 Gostlin St. in Hammond, carry more than 1,000 items from the 14 major fireworks brands. Dynamite is a “niche store” that carries hard-to-find pyrotechnics. The store doesn’t offer buy one-get one free, but claims to offer products that are half or less than many other Northwest Indiana fireworks retailers. Dynamite also offers discounts, coupons and in-store deals. The store is open from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. in the week leading up to July 4. You can also follow Dynamite Fireworks happenings on Facebook.

“This is Comiskey Park in your backyard,” Zambo said. “We carry products that are also as we can sell legally.” (Watch the video for more information.)

Shelton Fireworks Warehouse, 1601 US-20, Porter, IN -- Imagine a Walmart or Target store stocked from floor to ceiling with firework products. With six locations in Indiana to serve the most avid pyrotechnics, Shelton’s Porter location claims to be the largest store in Indiana, offering 54,000 square feet of fire power. According to Shelton’s website, the Porter, IN warehouse stocks many kinds of bottle rockets, missiles, aerial rockets, firecrackers, multi-firers, sparklers, roman candles, aerial displays and the entire 1.4 gram fireworks classification. Shelton carriers carry 200 various kinds of multi-firers that shoot up 50 to 70 feet that are certain to amaze your neighbors, as well as plenty of ground spinners and fountains available to entertain you. The store also sells more than 70 of the 500 gram grand finales in our inventories, included on Shelton’s special recommendations pages.

- Patch Editor Tim Moran contributed to this report | Photos by Lorraine Swanson