Allen “Big Al” Cohen said he knew he wanted to open a fireworks store when the law was passed last fall. That dream came to fruition when Big Al’s Fireworks opened Oct. 13.
The store held a ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 16, where Wiscasset Selectman Pamela Dunning presented a certificate to Big Al from the Town of Wiscasset and helped him cut the ribbon.
Selectmen Judy Colby and Ed Polewarczyk and Town Manager Laurie Smith were also present for the celebration.
“We’re rock-bottom priced,” Big Al said. The store’s year ’round low prices will provide good value every day instead of running periodic discounts, he said.
Free gifts are available for those that spend $5, $100, or $250 in the store though, said store manager Ray Walsh.
Big Al said prices on items range from 88-cents up to $179.
“My prices are good; I’ve shopped the other stores,” Big Al said. “We’re going to shake it up a little.”
The store sells firecrackers, fountains, cakes, Roman candles, finale pieces, mortars, variety kits, and novelties like snappers and smokebombs. “I stock anything that’s legal in Maine,” Big Al said.
Three 47-inch televisions around the store run video demonstrations of a lot of the items sold in the store, Big Al said. The videos play so the customers can have an understanding of the products before they buy them, he said.
A fireworks safety video is also in the playlist on the televisions, Big Al said.
Safety was a priority for the location, which includes a sprinkler system with a backup reservoir, sirens for the blind and strobe lights for the deaf, Big Al said.
The store is open at 9 a.m. seven days a week, and closes at 7:30 p.m., except on Sundays when it closes at 6 p.m. It will follow the same annual schedule as Big Al’s Super Value, closing just after New Year’s and re-opening on March 15.
