Staff photo by Gage Cureton Curt Miller and his family pose for a photo Wednesday in the TNT Fireworks tent at the Walmart parking lot. Back row, from left to right, Ezra Sobania, Curt Miller, Rohan Sobania, Matt Sobania. Front row, left to right, Isla Sobania, Ann Miller and Jessie Sobania.

NEW ULM — For Curt Miller, a TNT Fireworks distributor at the Walmart parking lot, it’s the expression on children’s faces when they enter his fireworks tent that makes his job enjoyable.

“I like to see their faces as they see the shelves because I don’t get to see that,” Miller said. “Just the joy we’re bringing to the kids. Even the big kids.”

Miller said he often doesn’t get to see Independence Day fireworks displays and the cheerful or starstricken expressions on kids’ faces.

“You pretty much give up your Fourth,” he said.

However, Miller isn’t at it alone. Along with his wife Ann, and his large family, Miller is able to keep the fireworks stand staffed daily.

“We have 10 children so everybody pitches in,” Miller said. “They either work up here or take care of kids or grandkids. The money we make is basically our family vacation money for the year.”

Miller said he has one customer that spends hundreds of dollars on fireworks every year at his stand. He said the customer has about six or seven people that pool their money together and plan for their Independence Day fireworks bash by ordering a TNT Fireworks catalog. Usually, the customer already has his mind set on what he wants to buy.

“He’s got a list,” he said. “He knows exactly what he wants. It’s a yearly thing for him.”

Miller said he usually prepares beforehand for the big-spending customer.

“We make sure we have some of the bigger shelves for him,” he said. “He just goes to it. He knows what he wants. It’s kind of nuts.”

The fireworks stand also invites other potential pyromaniacs or fireworks enthusists who are willing to shell out some extra cash.

“Every year we have about three or four people spend anywhere from $700 to $1,000,” Miller said. “And that’s yearly.”

Miller said the TNT Fireworks tent is open until Saturday July 6 in the New Ulm Walmart parking lot.

Gage Cureton can be emailed at gcureton@nujournal.com.