Business booming for Ewing fireworks stand

The Fourth of July is only a few days away and one Ewing business is prepared to ignite everyone's passion for all things pyrotechnic.

RTS Fireworks, located at Rotherham Tire Service, at 201 E. Nebraska Street, in Ewing, opened June 24 and is on pace to have a banner year.

Owner Eddie Rotherham said he has operated the stand for nine years. His daughter, Hailey, assists.

Rotherham added his sons "used to be some of his best customers."

Prior to opening RTS Fireworks, Ewing Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department hosted fireworks sales in the village.

"When they decided they weren't going to sell any more, I made a couple phone calls and was set up for the next year," he said.

RTS Fireworks offers traditional favorites, like smoke bombs, snakes and firecrackers, in addition to items that release parachutes, missles and Roman candles.

Inventory for this year is based off sales from the previous season, accourding to Rotherham.

"If you return a bunch of one kind, they don't send it to you. If you sell way more of one product, then they double it up," he said. "They try to mix it up each year so you get something new."

Rotherham wasn't sure what inventory he would receive this year.

"In November, with COVID, the distributor called and said the fireworks plant shut down in China. They were not shipping fireworks out of the country."

The company checked inventory in all of their facilities and determined what they could send to each dealer.

"The big 2020 products did not come from China," he said.

Adults favor large rockets and missiles. Youngsters favor smaller items, like a kiddie pack, which includes an assortment.

"These go fast because they have a little bit of everything," Rotherham said.

Family packs, containing a variety of items in different sizes, are another popular item.

RTS draws customers from all over the area. Typically, the Fourth of July is the business's busiest day.

The fireworks stand is approved annually by the Nebraska State Fire Marshal's office.