08/19/2026
Hello, this is Jennifer Sowers. My husband, Eric, and I have owned Level for nearly nine years. In that time, our staff, guests, neighbors, and this community have become such an important part of our lives.
Small business owners don't typically speak publicly about how hard things can be. Which is probably why it has taken me nine attempts to write this post.
We keep showing up. We make payroll. We take care of our employees. We welcome our guests with a smile. We try to figure out how to survive the slow weeks and absorb the rising costs. And then we come back the next day and do it all over again.
Along the way, we revel in the times that we get to hear guests laugh with family and friends together at one of our tables and when we clear plates from a table that appear to have been licked clean from a dish that we've created. We laugh with our staff members over trivial things and swell with pride as they move on to new adventures. These are the moments that make it all worthwhile.
We know some hardship comes with owning a business. But it is incredibly difficult to accept the added burden of a parking program that makes it harder and more expensive for people to come visit us or even work at our restaurants and shops.
It has been heartbreaking to watch what is happening to small businesses in downtown Annapolis. Seeing so many closing their doors is jarring. Unfortunately, by the time they have announced on social media that they are closing, it is too late.
From multiple confusing apps and increased fees, to aggressive enforcement and unwarranted citations, we have watched helplessly as our foot traffic has slowly declined over the past three years.
Just so we are clear, I'm not ready to write a goodbye post for Level. I will continue to fight for my business, staff and guests.
Individual businesses and residents posting on social media, emailing the city and testifying at city council meetings just has not been effective. The only way forward is if constituents stand with local businesses in mass and we are all willing to work with the City to find solutions that are fair and sustainable for everyone.
Level is proud to stand with so many other brave businesses that have added their names to the growing list supporting parking reform in downtown.
How can you help?
✍Sign our Change.org petition: https://c.org/9cdnRbYLpd
👉Join the Annapolis Parking Alliance FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/annapolisparkingalliance
📣Share this with your friends and neighbors
❤️Learn more or volunteer: https://www.annapolisparkingalliance.com/
Add your voice to ours. We aren't asking you to save just one business. We're asking you to help protect the downtown Annapolis we all love!
Thank you for your continued support.
Much love,
Jennifer, Eric and the entire Level Team
