YOUNGSTOWN — Phantom Fireworks Inc., the Youngstown-based national seller of fireworks, has grown with the acquisition of six Sky King Fireworks stores in Pennsylvania and Florida.

Terms of the deal with Sky King, which also has ties to the Mahoning Valley, were not disclosed, however, Phantom Fireworks took over operation of the stores Saturday.

“We believe it was a fair deal,” William Weimer, vice president of Phantom Fireworks, said Monday. “These guys have worked hard to build up their business over the years. We know them. We have worked with them periodically on lobbying in different states where we have common interests.”

The acquisition was for five Sky King stores in Pennsylvania: Morrisville, Tioga, Easton, Erie and Shrewsbury, as well as a one location in Daytona Beach, Florida, Weimer said. The markets in Morrisville and Tioga are new markets for Phantom Fireworks.

They will remain branded Sky King through at least Independence Day through a licensing agreement and rebranded Phantom Fireworks by the end of the year, Weimer said.

“We are always looking to expand,” Weimer said. “In addition to this six-unit expansion, this year we had a temporary location in Lansing, Michigan, that we turned into a permanent location. We opened a new unit in Warrensville Heights … on the east side of Cleveland and we have three other units we are working feverishly to get open.”

Those other new showrooms are in the suburbs of Cincinnati and Dayton and a one in Kensington, Pa., Weimer said.

With the Sky King acquisitions and the new showrooms, Phantom Fireworks will have 91 brick-and-mortar stores.

Sky King was founded in the mid 1990s in Port St. Lucie, Florida, by Stuthers natives Ronald Carrabia and William Micco. Later, Joe VanOudenhove, also of Struthers, and Christopher Yozwiak of Boardman, who died in January from ALS, joined the company as co-owners.

Sky King will continue to operate 14 stores in Pennsylvania, Florida, Indiana and Georgia. The acquisition by Phantom Fireworks is for five of Sky King’s six stores in Pennsylvania, excluding one in Hillsdale, Pa., and one of the company’s 10 stores in Florida, said VanOudenhove.

“Over the past year, we have carefully deliberated the sale of our business. Several potential buyers expressed interest in acquiring our six locations, but we felt that Phantom Fireworks was the best candidate for several reasons,” VanOudenhove said in an email. “First and foremost, we have a long history of friendship with the Zoldan family, who own Phantom Fireworks. This relationship gives us confidence that they will be excellent stewards of our business and our employees. Phantom Fireworks has the resources to provide our employees with the best opportunities for growth and development. Additionally, we believe they will continue to offer our loyal customers an exceptional experience they have come to expect from Sky King Fireworks.”

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