76 Gas Station, Columbia

For a quarter century, John Bechtold has been helping his fellow Americans light up the sky with an extensive selection of wholesale fireworks. His digital catalog and retail store boast consumer-legal pyrotechnics from national brands, such as Shogun and Firehawk. The merchandise runs the gamut from handheld sparklers to Da Big Bomb Box, whose four cakes fire off colorful crackling stars, crackling tails, and bouquets before culminating in a 12-shot finale that stretches nearly 300 feet in the air. Buyers unsure of what to choose can consult a pyromaniac psychic or the staff's recommendations, and true professionals can choose from the company's own '76 Pro Line, developed exclusively for display operators.