Today we’d like to introduce you to James Meyers.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is James Edward Patrick O’Leary Meyers II — a mouthful that already hints at the family, history, and tradition that shaped me.
I was born in 1982 in Jefferson City, Missouri. My father, James Sr., was then president of the Missouri AFL–CIO and lived in Jefferson City during his tenure. He’d spent his life in the labor movement and, born in 1930, was 52 when I was born. Growing up with a father so prominent meant my childhood was unlike most: I attended union meetings, Rotary luncheons, receptions, and events where I met baseball players, politicians, and business leaders. Stan Musial even attended my father’s 50th birthday. These experiences felt normal at the time, but looking back they accelerated my maturity and taught me how to carry myself.
My mom provided the lighter, kid-focused side of life, while my dad taught me how to be an adult: good manners, politeness, and composure. I was in college when he suffered a fatal heart attack. At 21 I inherited the family business, its debt, and several rental properties. It was a sudden, intense leap into responsibility, and my then-girlfriend (now my wife) was crucial in helping me keep the business and family together. It’s been hard at times, but an incredible ride.
Captain Jim’s Fireworks has operated at the same location since 1947. My grandmother ran a drive-in restaurant at the front of the property and began selling fireworks out of her garage that year. She later added a walk-up window; my father built Captain Jim’s Bar & Grill beside it and in 1978 constructed the stand that remains our home today. After I took over, we modernized the building — installing an asphalt floor for ADA compliance and shopping carts, adding garage doors, and upgrading registers to speed service and reduce lines — while continuing to hire and retain great people.
Next year marks our 80th anniversary. We’re proud of our history and grateful for the community and family that keep Captain Jim’s going.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been anything but smooth. After my father passed unexpectedly in 2005, I left my job and moved back to St. Louis to run the family business. We invested heavily in updating the store, but in 2012 a severe drought hit: neighboring counties made shooting fireworks a misdemeanor with a minimum $250 fine, and we lost more than $250,000 in sales that year.
The following June, just before our busy season, we were hit by a flood that left about four feet of water on the property. We had to empty the store, our home, and an on-site salon; we closed for roughly a week and took seven days to fully reopen. In winter 2015 another flood—this time 4–5 feet—arrived on New Year’s Eve. Freezing conditions delayed the water’s recession and forced us to close for almost a month, costing us significant New Year’s sales.
The worst disaster since we took over came in 2019, when nine feet of water topped the levees and wiped out our Fourth of July for the first time ever. I ran six trash pumps around the clock trying to lower the water, but we couldn’t open. The store required a complete remodel—new sidewalls, electrical, paint, shelving—and we lost more than $500,000 that year.
We’ve experienced both successes and setbacks since taking over. The challenges have been costly, but they’ve also been an intense learning process.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We’re the St. Louis area’s #1 family-run fireworks store — 79 years strong. Our commitment to fair pricing, hand-selected premium products, and exceptional customer service keeps customers coming back, even with the giant tents around us. We offer superior fireworks at 15–30% lower prices than the tents, plus a no-dud guarantee: if a product fails to fire, bring it back for a replacement—no questions asked. Because we’re open year-round, that level of service is non-negotiable.
Unlike the big tent company that only operates June 30–July 4 (with no returns, no customer support, and no way to reach them afterward), we’re here whenever you need us. Customers shop with us for backyard BBQs, weddings, funerals, sporting events, Diwali, Halloween, New Year’s Eve, and more. We also carry specialty items—color-changing campfire flames, bug-repellent smoke, pest-control firecrackers, and other seasonal supplies.
We treat our staff and customers like family, and our reviews say it best.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Working at the fireworks store every summer as a kid gave me some of my best memories. My parents divorced when I was two, so my dad had me every other weekend—and every fireworks season from school’s end in May through July 4th.
I started around age eight, sweeping and raking the rock floor and parking lot and pricing items on the tables. By ten I was riding the trucks with the older crew, unloading deliveries and keeping the lot clean. At twelve I was running the register, helping customers plan backyard shows, painting parking lines, and hanging pennants from the light poles. I worked every summer until college, and when my father passed away at 21 I took over the store with my then‑girlfriend. It was a huge responsibility for someone so young, but we figured it out.
The friendships I made with coworkers—many lifelong neighbors from our small town—were a huge part of the experience. I’m still friends with many of them, and now their kids are joining the team: this year alone we have 10–12 employees whose parents worked here years ago.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fireworksstl.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/captainjim
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@captainjimsfireworks
