W W W.O U DA I LY.C O M
The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916
2 012 S I LV E R C R O W N W I N N E R
J U L Y 2 J U L Y 8 , 2 0 14
Spark your pyro Fireworks store offers cornucopia of Fourth of July firecrackers JORDAN RIPPETOE
Life and Arts and Sports editor
For southerners, there’s nothing more patriotic than setting stuff on fire. Because of this, the Fourth of July is a major holiday for one reason: fireworks. In Norman, one fireworks stand towers above the rest: Jake’s Fireworks. Located at 17824 S Sooner Rd. This fireworks stand is a large warehouse with plenty of fireworks to choose from. There are greeters waiting for people to walk in the door to welcome customers with smiles and shopping carts. With the store’s low prices, people would need shopping carts to haul all the fireworks they’d want to buy. “We’re the cheapest,” Wanda Moses, the manager of Jake’s, said. TONY RAGLE/THE DAILY
The Vasquez family purchases fireworks at Jake’s Fireworks on Sooner Rd for their personal Fourth of July celebration.
There are a wide variety of fireworks inside the large warehouse building. The walls are lined with Black Cat fireworks, family packs and the company’s bestseller, Excalibur. Excalibur launches 24 different mortar shells, displaying brilliant colors upon explosion. Excalibur might be Jake’s best selling product, but it is far from their only firecracker. It sells everything other places do, just a whole lot more of it. Because it’s difficult to be original in the fireworks business, their large stock is what makes it stand out. “Everybody copies everyone,” Moses said. Jake’s comes up with it‘s own fireworks, but other fireworks places have not been so original. “Jake’s has originals, but others copied us,” Moses said. VOL. 99, NO. 157 © 2014 OU Publications Board FREE — Additional copies 25¢
L&A: Lower 40 to explode on charts
Pg 7
Cover: Ins and outs of Fourth of July in Norman
Fireworks stock tends to remain the same from fireworks stand to fireworks stand. However, no place offers the same selection that Jake’s offers. Many people buy fireworks in bulk. So, with Jake’s prices and it’s large selection of fireworks, it is truly the one stop shop for a great Fourth of July fireworks show. For those do not wish to set off fireworks at home, Norman will have a fireworks show in Reaves Park on the Fourth of July starting at 9:45 p.m.
Pg 2&3
@OUDaily
theoklahomadaily
OUDaily