Fireworks Vendors Set Up Shop

Just over one year after the state of Rhode Island legalized certain types of fireworks, a cottage industry of temporary vendors has sprung up — including three locations in Johnston.

Two companies — TNT Fireworks and Phantom Fireworks Tents — have temporary locations, essentially tents erected on vacant lots, in town. Local stores, including the Stop & Shop on Atwood Avenue, also have small displays with legal fireworks.

Melissa Goduti, Rhode Island and Connecticut Area Manager for TNT, said during a phone interview that her company set up 30 locations in the state this year, a direct result of the 2010 law.

"We can't have a presence in the state without that law in place," she explained.

Nearby Massachusetts still outlaws all fireworks, and Goduti said there may be "a bit of out-of-state traffic" to the Rhode Island locations, adding, "there's really no difference" in what Massachusetts customers buy.

Goduti said the hiring process for TNT locations starts a year ahead of time, with potential vendors signed up as subcontractors and run through credit checks before they're given a location to run.

"We hire pretty much everyone six months in advance," said Goduti, adding that the credit check is needed "because we provide them everything on consignment — we're lending them $40,000 to $50,000 of inventory."

Most of the applicants are found "through word of mouth," Goduti said, and include many nonprofit organizations, sports teams, and church groups looking to raise funds.

"That's the majority of people I hire," she explained. "About half of our locations are run by those types of groups."

The vendors then get 20 percent of all sales — meaning "they can make $4,000 to $10,000 in about two weeks," Goduti said.

Heading into the July Fourth weekend, Goduti said she expects July 1 to be the busiest day of the season.

In Johnston, the location at 2750 Hartford Ave. — the former Johnston Motor Lodge — is run by Cranston resident Bobby Gerardi, who also manages indoor locations at 350 Park Ave. in Cranston and 1745 Main St. in West Warwick.

"I worked in Tampa doing this with a friend of mine a few years ago," Gerardi said during a phone interview. "I came home, and once they legalized it, I started it here."

Because the Johnston location is temporary, Gerardi explained that he sleeps on the property in a camping tent overnight — one of the requirements for operating in Johnston.

"All of the inspections were passed, and our lighting inside the tent is done by the code," Gerardi said. "TNT has been doing this for years — they're a $40 million company, so they keep it tight."

Gerardi said he recruited "volunteers," family and friends, to help with managing his locations — in Johnston, Jay Hoogasian lives across the street from the tent and actually visited as a customer a couple of weeks ago, before he knew Gerardi was the vendor.

Lisa Mollicone, also of Johnston, said Gerardi is "and old friend — I wanted to help out a friend with his business."

Asked for his ideas on what makes a good display, Gerardi said he typically recommends assortments, which can range from $11 to $500, then a few novelty items, and a "finale cake" to complete the package.

"For $50, you can have a really good party," Gerardi explained.

State Law Passed In Late Flurry

The history of how Rhode Island approved some fireworks — but not others, like those that fire projectiles into the air or leave the ground — goes back to votes taken in the General Assemby in the waning days of the 2010 session.

Both the House and Senate versions of the bill were approved as part of each Chamber's calendar and signed by then-Governor Don Carcieri on June 11, 2010.

Police and fire officials in the state were caught by surprise by the move, Johnston Fire Chief Tim McLaughlin — who was then Immediate Past President of the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs — recalled.

"They passed it at 2 a.m., and they had no guidelines set up," said McLaughlin, who was appointed to his current post in March. "We were a little bit stunned that, all of a sudden, it was legal to sell fireworks — nobody conferred with our organization."

Local officials were "blindsided by this law," he added, and were left to set their own basic standards for what kinds of explosives can be sold in their towns.

In Johnston, for example, each vendor must get a peddler's license from town hall and then ask the fire department to inspect their location, McLaughlin explained.

Tents like the one that TNT is using must be labelled fireproof, have two exits available, and have fire extinguishers on hand, McLaughlin said. Vendors must also have a rental truck on the property, with a plaquard that shows they're holding explosives — they can't use Pods-type storage containers, he added.

"That's pretty much the extent of what we can police them on," McLaughlin explained.

The fire chief credited TNT and Phantom with "being very well-versed in what they need to do," though he also expressed concern over smaller vendors that have sprung up in other communities.

"I don't think Johnston wants to see a fireworks tent on every corner," McLaughlin said.

Even though it's now legal to use fireworks, McLaughlin explained that his advice is still to "leave it to the pros — there are plently of fireworks displays in Rhode Island. Go out with the family and enjoy a nice night out."

That said, McLaughlin added: "But if they are going to use fireworks, we hope the people who buy them keep the kids away from them, and keep them away from anything combustible. Use diligence, because injuries can still occur and we're trying to minimize that as much as possible."