Latest news with #PhantomFireworks
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Phantom Fireworks expands into new location
NILES, Ohio (WKBN) — Pyrotechnic lovers rejoice: Phantom Fireworks is coming to the Eastwood Mall Complex. Ron Zoldan is the vice president and head of the development department for Phantom Fireworks and says the company has been in talks with the Eastwood Mall and the Cafaro family for the past three years to blast this location into the mall complex. This is the company's first-ever mall complex location, and they're very excited. 'It's definitely a nuance for us, but we're excited to be in this location,' Zoldan said. 'There's 12 million people that visit the Eastwood Mall each year, so we're hoping to be a part of that Eastwood family and we're hoping to bring customers to the Eastwood Mall that are coming for fireworks and vice versa.' He said they hope to have the new location open by Memorial Day weekend or the beginning of June, depending on how construction progresses. While opening is still at least a month out, the 'Phantom Fireworks' sign is already in place. Zoldan says at least for this first year, the steep tariffs on China should not impact the new store's stock, as they already have about 90% of their inventory. 'In the coming years, it surely could affect costs of fireworks and the amount of importing we can do, but we are putting our faith in the administration that we will get past it and be, exemptions that need to be made for industries if they cannot go elsewhere will hopefully be put in place.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Discrimination allegations reignite after county commissioners deny fireworks permit again
CHEYENNE — When the Laramie County commissioners denied Artillery World and Jurassic Fireworks a permit to sell fireworks in the county last year, Frank 'Pete' Elliott Jr. accused the governing body of discrimination against the stores for being Colorado-owned, likening it to discrimination against minorities during the Civil Rights era in the 1960s. 'This is going to be a Rosa Parks book,' Elliott, who represented the businesses, told the WTE last year. 'Everybody's going to know.' On Tuesday, the county commissioners again voted to deny the annual permit for Artillery World to operate. Despite being denied a permit twice last year, the businesses were able to continue to operate after a First Judicial District Court judge issued a preliminary injunction when the fireworks businesses sued the county over its decision. This means the businesses continued to operate until the court passes judgment on whether the commissioners' decision was lawful as part of the petitions for review filed by each company. Commissioner Ty Zwonitzer said he did not feel comfortable approving this permit while the litigation between the county and Elliott is ongoing. Commissioner Troy Thompson echoed this sentiment. But the primary reason members of the governing body oppose issuing the permits is because they see the fireworks stores as bad business partners for the county. Last year, Thompson said in a commissioners meeting discussing the permit that Elliott would project recorded messages on bullhorns criticizing Phantom Fireworks, which is next door. The Laramie County Sheriff's Office had to address noise complaints there multiple times. Additionally, he said employees would stand on top of tractor-trailers waving flags, and stand in the middle of the road to direct traffic to their store, instead of the nearby rivals. Elliott said these were just his unorthodox marketing tactics in response to rumors he believed Phantom Fireworks started about him, including that he sexually harassed their female employees, attempted to pay people to burn down their building and sends people to damage Phantom's products. Artillery World and Jurassic Fireworks are registered under the name Breanna Elliott, Frank Elliott's daughter, but Frank Elliott oversees much of the operations of the fireworks businesses and has been vocally critical of the commissioners. The cases against the county were filed under Breanna's name, not Frank's. Thompson's concerns rose when his personal business received a call from Frank Elliott about an upcoming protest against his vote to deny the permit, something he has done for the past six years. When the commissioners met Tuesday, Thompson played the recording of the phone call to his office. He said the call took place in May 2024. In the call, Elliott asked the receptionist how many employees work at Tri-State Veterinary Clinic, which Thompson owns. 'Weird question,' Elliott said of his inquiry in the call, 'but we are looking to protect some of the employees and staff from what's coming to happen here real soon. ... There's going to be a big protest … there's going to be a big protest outside coming up in the next week or so and we just want to make sure that the employees know it's nothing towards them, and there's no harm, that they're going to be safe, we're not going to do nothing out to disrupt them.' Thompson said he took this call as a personal threat toward him and his business. 'It just goes to this history of this man being a bully to our employees, to whoever it is that he thinks is standing in his way,' Thompson said. 'And I cannot, in good conscience, ever vote for this person to be doing business in Laramie County. This isn't what we want in Laramie County.' Commission Chairman Gunnar Malm agreed with Thompson, adding that it is inappropriate for a member of the public to threaten or protest in this manner. 'I don't see how that is appropriate in any world where we're a civilized society, especially not in Wyoming,' Malm said. Malm added that this not a case of discrimination against the business for being Colorado-owned, because the other fireworks stores in the same area are based out of state, as well, but have had their permits approved. 'It has nothing to do with that. It is about behavior, it's about attitude, and it is about decorum,' he said. 'And those are the things that I strongly believe this applicant does not possess, and I am against allowing them to do business in Laramie County if this is how they're going to behave.' The protest never happened at Thompson's business. Thompson said he believes it is because the stores were awarded a preliminary injunction to remain operational. Elliott said he does not believe the call indicated any sort of threat. Rather, he said he was looking out for the safety of Thompson's employees while wanting to exercise his right to organize a peaceful protest. 'I didn't hear it, but I can imagine there's no threat because I don't threaten people. That's my M.O.,' Elliott said. He added that he knew the denial of the permit was coming because that's what he's come to expect from the Laramie County commissioners. Elliott said he will seek every legal remedy possible to overturn the decision the commissioners made Tuesday, something he said last year after the same decision. When granted the injunction last year, the fireworks stores were given conditions to follow in order to keep the business open while the litigation plays out. Those conditions were: * Nobody representing Artillery World or Jurassic Fireworks could enter the right of way using a bullhorn, waving flags or engaging in activities to direct people toward their property * If using a bullhorn, it could only be from their property and not from an elevated platform, though speakers on their building are acceptable, as long as these sounds do not exceed 80 decibels at the property's border; and * Nobody representing Artillery World or Jurassic Fireworks can engage in any harassment or conduct that is likely to disturb or interfere with other fireworks business operations. Bruce Asay, Elliott's legal counsel, said the businesses have abided by those conditions over the past year, and he argued the commissioners have no legal grounds to deny the permit. The commissioners also voted to fold those three conditions into any subsequent fireworks permit applications for any business in the county, something Asay said he is supportive of.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Free corned beef sandwiches for first responders on St. Patrick's Day
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – A local company is making sure area first responders get a St. Patrick's Day meal. Read next: Chef's famous lobster fest back for St. Patty's Day Phantom Fireworks is once again treating Mahoning and Trumbull County first responders to corned beef sandwiches on Monday. It's the fifth year Phantom has partnered with Jeff Chrystal's Catering to provide emergency personnel with a free, festive meal. All they have to do is wear their uniform or bring an ID to identify them as an active duty first responder. 'It's important to us, as a company, as a family, to give back to these people who put their lives on the line,' said Ron Zoldan, vice president of Phantom Fireworks. First responders can pick up a corned beef sandwich at Jeff Chrystal's Catering on Belmont Avenue on Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
