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USA Fireworks, an Indianapolis-based retailer known for seasonal fireworks stores that have opened across the region each summer for the past two decades, is going out of business and auctioning off its inventory and business equipment.
Indianapolis-based Key Auctioneers LLC said Friday that it was hired by USA Fireworks to auction off a “mother lode” of fireworks that have a retail value of about $4.5 million, plus additional equipment and vehicles worth tens of thousands of dollars.
A three-day online auction is schedule for Oct. 29-31, followed by an onsite auction at 10 a.m. Nov. 1 at USA Fireworks’ former headquarters at 7800 Records St. in Lawrence.
USA Fireworks was founded by Todd Denning and Tim Lee in 1999 and grew into a regional business by opening temporary retail locations each June and July. This year, the company operated more than 240 stores in Indiana, Michigan and Kentucky.
Kevin Martin, marketing director for Key Auctioneers, said he didn’t know the details behind the closing of USA Fireworks. The company just recently contacted Key to handle the auction, he said.
The official name of the business is USA Halloween Planet Inc., but it began doing business as USA Fireworks in 2006. The company has taken down its website and its phones are disconnected. A voice message left with Lee, who served as president until July, was not immediately returned Friday morning.
Key said it will be auctioning off fireworks ranging from missiles and rockets to sparklers and smoke bombs.
In addition to fireworks, the inventory includes a box truck, bucket truck, two cargo vans, trailers and two forklifts. Also on the auction list are 3,000 plastic folding tables, more than 140 cash registers, shopping carts, power tools and 200-plus fire extinguishers.
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