Inside Look at Solomons Island Road Fireworks Stand

Dan Thompson enjoyed the shade while sitting inside a large, yellow trailer perched on the southbound side of Solomons Island Road in Edgewater.

The whir of propeller planes taking off at hummed in the cool June morning as the Parkville man watched hundreds of cars pass him by. Thompson was selling fireworks, so with every driver that drove by, so did their dollars.

Despite the relatively “slow” day on Tuesday morning, Thompson said business will be booming this weekend, while he enjoys his fireworks stand’s “prime location” and “terrific” shopping community ahead of the July 4 holiday.

“I’ve had competition set up right across the street before, but this is great,” Thompson said about his experience in selling fireworks. “This location is unbelievable.”

In his sixth year of spending the summer selling fireworks with his wife, Thompson said it’s hard work, but it’s worth the paycheck, considering he only has to work a few weeks in the summer.

His wife Kathy primarily “mans” the stand, he said, but when things pick up, the two of them will bring in an additional five workers to meet the demand next week.

Both Thompsons have full-time jobs, but elect to spend some time in the summer bringing in extra cash.

The stand, owned by TNT Fireworks and located next to , has similar locations set up throughout the region, including one as close as the Annapolis mall.

Thompson said TNT sells only Maryland-legal products—ground-based fireworks and sparklers—and no firecrackers or bottle rockets.

Local residents enjoy what’s in the trailer, but the biggest and baddest products are “out back” in a large tent, Thompson said.

“I don’t know what it is, but people around here love roaming around in the tent finding their fireworks—much more than looking in the trailer,” Thompson said.

His largest and most expensive Independence Day pyrotechnic is a $500 tray, featuring approximately 50 minutes of entertainment.

“It took two of us just to carry it,” Thompson said.

Despite the hefty price tag for some of the fireworks, the Parkville man said most people spend between $200-$300 on a variety of products, including some of Thompson’s favorites.

If a customer pulls up to purchase some fireworks, the man in the yellow trailer isn’t shy about telling them what stinks and what provides the best “bang for your buck,” no pun intended.

As he listed his personal favorites, many of them are titled after eye-popping terms, like “Fat Cats” and “Zombie.” Coincidentally, the “lamest” firework he carries is called “the chicken.”

The TNT fireworks trailer in Edgewater opened almost two weeks ago and is open from approximately 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. The trailer is open until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, Thompson said.

The stand accepts credit cards and cash.