I hadn't messed with fireworks in a few years. But this year fireworks fever spread through my hood like wildfire. (Maybe that analogy is redundant but I don't care.) With covid cancelling all the big fireworks displays, enhanced unemployment benefits and stimulus checks padding pockets in a city that hasn't had rents completely gentrified out of control - yet - and cabin fever gripping a quarantine weary populace the time was ripe for over the top displays of pyrotechnics. And as I was making more in gubbament cheese than I had been in the two jobs I was working - they really got to pay us working stiffs more decent wages - I couldn't resist dropping some dough on things that go boom and pop in the night.
Indeed there was already an ample amount of empty shelf space here at XL several days before Independence Day. (Macomb County was no less enthusiastic in lighting off stuff that blows itself up than we were back in the 313, though they didn't seem to go as late into the night with it.) They still had an eye popping array of pyrotechnics though. There's nowhere near the amount of floor space here that you'll find over at Phantom but the pricing was better and not as difficult to figure out with no 2 for 1 deals intermittently laid out that make you question whether the prices weren't already jacked up enough to nullify any savings.
What really struck me here was the customer service. They didn't have many people working but they were in good spirits, especially the guy wandering the sales floor engaging every single shopper. (You have to hunt for help at Phantom.) I assume he's the owner or at least the manager. Anyway, he quite plainly loves fireworks and is all too happy to discuss them in great detail with fellow enthusiasts. Like I said, I'm not super immersed in this hobby but he helped me find some colorful combustible delights. Unfortunately I had already spent a bunch at Phantom a couple days earlier and the monkey has once again on my back, so I didn't want to go too hog wild here. (I wish I would have come to XL in the first place.) I think I picked up 5 things here and the real stand-out of the bunch was Zombie Zonkers, a crackle cake (okay, I did pick up some lingo from YouTube videos) that was really in your face with crackling silver 'splosions and raining copper sparks. Even sicker to behold than the gnarly artwork on the package,
I didn't have to wait 15 minutes to get up to the register like at Phantom and everyone gets a free small American flag - well at that time of the year at least - and a spin of a big wheel for a freebie. The Bloomin Flowers I got weren't the best but complaining about that isn't very sporting, is it?
XL also offers to help everyone take out their fireworks to their vehicles and load them up, something you won't find at, you guessed it, Phantom. (Their two star review has practically written itself already.) In the meantime five stars cracklin in the night for XL. BOOM! read more