Fireworks vendors now open in New Richmond

• Morales

Joe Morales, owner of Heidi’s Hallmark, 1621 Dorset Lane, opened a fireworks stand on the empty lot just north of Heidi’s Hallmark. The fireworks stand is currently open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Morales said his hours will be extended as the Fourth of July holiday nears.
• Gibby's

Jamie Gibson, owner of Gibby’s Lanes, has opened a fireworks stand just north of Gibby’s Lanes at 546 W. North Shore Drive. The stand is open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. every day through July 9.

Talk about it

New Richmondites don’t have to go far to stock up for their Fourth of July celebrations – two fireworks stands have opened in the city.

Jamie Gibson, owner of Gibby’s Lanes, and Joe Morales, owner of Heidi’s Hallmark, have opened stands on either end of New Richmond.

Gibson’s stand, located in the parking lot of Gibby’s Lanes, 546 W. North Shore Drive, is open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. through July 9.

Gibson had considered opening a second location on an empty lot south of Super America; however, the New Richmond City Council offered only two fireworks seller’s permits under its newly adopted fireworks ordinance.

Morales’ stand, located on the empty lot just north of Heidi’s Hallmark, 1621 Dorset Lane, is open 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Gibson said his fireworks stand has been in the works for seven years – since he opened Gibby’s Lanes on the north end of town.

“I wanted to do this seven years ago but waited until the (new Stillwater) bridge got approved,” he said.

Gibson said he approached the City of New Richmond about his business plan and that’s when it was discovered there was no ordinance relating to firework sales in the city.

“I take pride in being the one who started this,” he said. “I’m the reason they adopted an ordinance.”

For Morales, the decision to open the fireworks stand was strictly a business move.

“We knew we had a great spot out here so we decided to apply for a license,” he said.

Morales’ fireworks stand hours will be extended as the Fourth of July holiday approaches.

“We have permission from the city to be open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.,” he said. “We’ll just keep extending those hours as we need to.”

Both vendors offer a variety of items – from bottle rockets and firecrackers to the 500 gram cakes.

At Gibson’s stand, the most popular items are put on display; however, the trailer housed on site holds many more items, he said.

“We have a huge shipment coming in Saturday (June 23) with more items, so we’ll have those too,” he said. “And if it’s raining, we sell from the trailer.”

Inventory is always changing at Gibson’s fireworks stand, he said.

At Morales’ fireworks stand, all items are put on display in the tent.

“We put everything out because we think it makes it easier for the customer to see what we have,” he said.

Morales said he’s glad there are two fireworks businesses in town.

“We’re in two different spots and buy our fireworks from two different companies,” he said. “I think we’ll both be successful and this will be good for New Richmond.”

Tags: new richmond, business