Rabun brothers hope fireworks business will boom

Chan and Ben Watts are in a unique position this week. They are the only locally-owned business in our area with a state license to start selling commercial fireworks on Wednesday.

“We started thinking about it around February when we heard talk of it going up for a vote (in the legislature),” Chan explains.

Once the law passed and was signed by Governor Nathan Deal, “We immediately saw an opportunity to be the first retailer in North Georgia,” says Chan.

According to Laura Wright of the Georgia Department of Insurance, the Watts’ North Georgia Fireworks in Rabun County is the only locally-owned “Licensed Facility” in the northeast corner of the state.

“Some of the chain stores have licensed all their locations,” Wright says, “but only 23 retail fireworks facilities have applied as of Monday.” Of those that applied, only 18 were approved according to the state website.

“We took a gamble.” Chan explains they wanted to get into the business first instead of “waiting till you see them all over the place.”

The Wells will officially open North Georgia Fireworks on July 1 at the Henry’s Restaurant location right on Highway 441 about 10 miles north of the Habersham County line.

The big chain stores, Walmart and Kroger in Northeast Georgia, have licensed hundreds of locations across the state but Chan says the Wells brothers are in a good position to compete, “Our store will carry all the fireworks that Walmart sells and many that they don’t including 500 gram fountains and finale shots, bottle rockets and assortment bags.”

You can check out some of their wares on the North Georgia Fireworks Facebook page. “We are looking forward to seeing everyone,” Chan says, “and remember to have a blast and be safe celebrating our country’s Independence Day!”