If your dog hates the sound of fireworks, don't take him to Winfield this weekend.
Dizzy Dean's Fireworks, Northwest Alabama's only fireworks Super Center, will host a special day of fun at its Grand Opening this Saturday, June 25, including the explosion of 1,000,000 fireworks, along with 1 bottle rocket!
The promotion will be part of free public event hosted by owners Glenn and Lavonda Dodd. Visitors can enjoy food plus live music from Nikki Moore from 6-8 p.m., and after the fireworks explosion, a grand finale of aerial fireworks. And of course Dizzy Dean's Super Center will be open for business, both before and after the event, with their famous Buy One, Get One Free on everything in the store.
The 1,000,000 firecrackers explosion (and one bottle rocket) will be an Alabama first, Dodd said.
And Dizzy Dean's grand opening continues into the weekend of July 1-4. On Saturday, July 2, Alabama football legend Tyrone Prothro will be at Dizzy Dean's with merchandise to sell and autograph starting at 12 p.m. Shoppers will also enjoy free popcorn, the giant 8-foot prize wheel and a massive 'Disco' firecracker, all part of Dizzy's Dean's 'Explosion of Fun!'
On Monday, July 4, Green Top BBQ will have its food truck at Dizzy Dean's throughout the day.
Dodd, a Winfield native who looks for inventive ways to promote his business, opened his first fireworks store in his hometown more than 20 years ago.
Dodd was living in Huntsville where he and Lavonda worked as youth pastors. Their youth group sold fireworks as a fund raiser for five years to raise money for missions work. The idea of selling a variety of fireworks at fair prices was important to Dodd, so his first store opened a short time later.
With locations all over North Alabama, Dizzy Dean's Fireworks has seen meteoric growth, while remaining a family affair. Dodd's sister Kim is the general manager of the Winfield Super Center, and his brother-in-law and nephews and niece help operate the stores.
There are also Dizzy Dean's locations in Northport, Brookwood, Decatur/Priceville, Rainsville, Guntersville, Boaz, Gadsden, Hueytown and McCalla. All locations are family run or supported by churches that receive a percentage of sales.
“I thought about opening the Super Center in Northport because I now live in Tuscaloosa,” Dodd said. “But it was so much easier to come home and work with the City of Winfield and open this new store right on Interstate 22 and benefit my hometown. I loved the idea.”
Dodd's original Winfield wood store remains intact inside the Super Center. Local students are working with him to create a museum out of the old building. Dizzy Dean's Winfield location also boasts the 'World's Largest Disco Firecracker,' constructed by students at Bevill State Community College and Winfield High School.
Once each hour, they crank up the 'World's Largest Disco Firecracker' and the 6,000 square foot building turns into “Alabama's largest Disco dance floor,” complete with Disco lighting, for three minutes. And being the promoter he is, Dodd said that leads into a flash sale where certain items are discounted to 'Buy One, Get Two Free.'
On busy days, Dodd has a staff of up to 24 people working at the Winfield Super Center. His sister retired from Walmart after almost 40 years, so her extensive retail experience is a tremendous asset to the business, Dodd said.
Another Dizzy Dean's promotion is available for any customer who spends $200 or more in the store. That customer gets to spin the giant 8-foot prize wheel where he or she can win store credits up to $50, or Dizzy Dean's swag.
Obviously, running a business is about making money, but Dodd also wants customers to have a fun time while enjoying their shopping experience. The I-22 location means Dizzy Dean's will draw customers from all over, so Dodd wants their drive to Winfield to be worth it. An 'Explosion of Fun.' That's his goal.
“They say Winfield is in the middle of nowhere but close to everywhere,” Dodd said. “If you draw a 60-mile radius around Winfield, it touches Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Florence, Tupelo, Columbus, Russellville and just misses Cullman and Decatur
Dizzy Dean's Fireworks is located on I-22, Exit 30 at 135 Bob Lawrence Drive, in Winfield. The Super Center phone number is 205-430-2719.
The store will remain open through Sunday, July 10, but there's a sign on the door with a phone number customers can call and one of the Dodd family will come to the Super Center and help them find what they need.
For more information visit dizzydeansfireworks.com, or search Dizzy Deans Super Center on Facebook.
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