Fireworks stores sell for home displays

THEODORE, Ala. (WALA) - Fireworks sales were booming on the Fourth of July.

That signals a happy fourth for Jerry Martin. Martin has the oldest and one of the largest fireworks stores in South Alabama.

"It's a wonderful fourth," Martin said.

"I opened my store at 6 o'clock this morning. We wait all year long for this day, and you don't lay in bed waiting for customers, you come open your store for customers," he said.

The fourth is also a big day for Justin Hoppe's family.

"One time a year, that's it, just the fourth of July, and this is it," Hoppe said.

Hoppe said the fireworks will cap off a full day of family activities.

"We have my in-laws, and my nieces and my sister in law and like today we're going swimming, fishing, and tonight we're going to have a barbecue and light off fireworks," he said.

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Fireworks is a tradition for Chris Summerville's family too, but he's leaving the big display up to the city. Mostly, he lets his children play with sparklers and enjoys watching his son have fun.

"We do a little bit at home, and then head to the battleship to watch the big ones," Summerville said.

With the fourth falling in the middle of the week you might think sells would be a little off, well they're not in fact, Martin expects to be open well pass midnight.

"We'll probably sell 85 or 95 percent of it today, yeah.  We wait all year for this day, and this is our day have to make some money," he said.

Whether you're lighting your own fireworks, or planning to watch the city's display July 4th is the day we all  celebrate our independence.

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