AMELIA, Ohio — The COVID-19 pandemic has canceled a lot of firework shows in 2020, but that has seemingly launched firework sales into the stratosphere.
"A lot of communities are canceling their professional fireworks display so I think now people are deciding they're going to have their own," Lauren Turner, assistant manager of Amelia's Phantom Fireworks, said.
Turner said sales this year are almost double what they were by this time last year, and the store she works at has already reached $1 million in sales.
Usually the Fourth of July rush hits on July 1, she said. This year, though, people have been stocking up on fireworks since mid-June.
"(We are) restocking constantly, but our inventory has definitely taken a hit," Turner said. "I think it's exciting! A lot of people, it's like a candy shop for them."
