Fireworks expert opens Presque Isle store
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Those looking to celebrate the 4th of July in a big way had the opportunity to incorporate fireworks into their celebration, thanks to the recent opening of Pyro City Maine, a new fireworks store located at 22 Caribou Road — former home of Caron’s Lawn & Property Maintenance.
PYRO CITY MAINE, a new fireworks store located at 22 Caribou Road in Presque Isle, officially opened its doors Saturday. The store carries such items as sparklers, Roman candles and 500-gram “cakes.”
The Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony just before the doors opened at 9 a.m. Pictured are, from left: Nola Farley, chamber director; Steve Marson, Pyro City owner and company president; and Stacy Shaw, chamber director.
Steve Marson, owner and company president, credited a change in the state’s law on fireworks sales in Maine with allowing citizens to purchase his wares legally. Sale of fireworks became legal in the state as of Jan. 1.
“The change in the law has allowed me to open five stores throughout Maine, including this location in Presque Isle. I have four other stores. My first was in Manchester, followed by Edgecomb and Winslow, and the Ellsworth store opened two weeks ago,” said Marson.
While some communities in Maine have passed ordinances restricting fireworks, Presque Isle City Council saw no need to do so, noting at a meeting earlier this year the business opportunities and job possibilities that could result from state lawmakers deciding to make fireworks legal.
Marson said there were a couple reasons for opening the five stores in a relatively short period of time.
“Because fireworks were previously illegal, there really weren’t any venues for customers to purchase within the state. By opening my stores, customers won’t have to travel out of state and the money stays in the state. I’m also giving about 40 Mainers jobs,” said Marson.
He’s tried to select spots to open stores that are centrally located, to better serve needs.
“The people of Presque Isle and surrounding communities needed an opportunity to shop local — not have to drive a great distance to purchase their fireworks,” said the Maine native, who’s spent about four decades in the fireworks business.
ABOUT 20 PEOPLE were waiting outside Saturday morning for Steve Marson, owner of Pyro City Maine, to open the doors at 9 a.m. The new fireworks store is located at 22 Caribou Road — former home of Caron’s Lawn & Property Maintenance.
Here, customers check out the inventory which includes such items as sparklers, Roman candles and 500-gram “cakes.” With the sale of fireworks becoming legal in the state as of Jan. 1, many residents were anxious to make a purchase prior to Independence Day.
“I’ve been doing commercial shows for about 40 years — 26 of those with Central Maine Pyrotechnics, headquartered in Hallowell. I decided to open my stores because I felt a responsibility to provide Mainers with an opportunity to buy local,” said Marson, whose pyrotechnics display business will be busy again this year, doing shows in Maine and neighboring states.
Marson has a busy year ahead of him, between overseeing operations at the five stores and over 200 fireworks shows in the coming months.
“Central Maine Pyrotechnics will be doing about 225 shows in four states: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. This 4th of July, we’ll be doing shows in three of those states — Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont,” Marson said.
Marson said the businesses are licensed through the federal and state governments.
“We’re licensed through the federal government for importation/exportation through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. We’re also licensed in each individual state,” Marson said.
The stores will carry such items as sparklers, Roman candles and 500-gram ‘cakes,’ said Marson.
“We’ll have everything except missiles, parachute shells, rockets, aerial spinners and anything on a stick. You must be 21 to buy and use fireworks. It’s a Class D crime for anyone under 21 to use them or for someone to by them to give to a person under 21,” said Marson.
Safety is a priority for Marson, who said the Presque Isle facility will feature an area designated to safety instruction.
“We’ll have a whole safety area and will provide safety education to the public using videos and on-site instruction,” he said. “We have experienced personnel onsite to answer questions and provide detailed instructions on the proper use of fireworks.”
Marson said he was pleased to find such an ideal location for his fifth store.
“When this building became available, I knew it was the right location. It’s on a high-traffic route, with great visibility. We have a lease-purchase agreement for the site,” said Marson.
Marson said he’s hired four full-time employees, with openings for two more.
“I’ll also be hiring two full-time seasonal workers, for the period of April to around October,” said Marson.
The store will have special hours to allow those celebrating the 4th of July an opportunity to buy fireworks, with hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through July 8.
“We’ll go to regular hours after that: Sunday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Thursday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.,” said Marson.
For more information, call 768-5904 or 768-5900 or visit www.pyrocitymaine.com.
