By BARBARA GREEN
There’s an ongoing code enforcement battle brewing between the City of Bowie and Tawni Jones, owner of several businesses in downtown Bowie.
Jones said she has been directed by the city to bring the second floor of The Rack, which is used as her residence and office, up to code which includes installation of a fire suppression system.
The business owner has played out the conflict across social media recently telling the public it looks like she may have to close her businesses The Rack, The Brick (The Knife at 223 located in The Brick) and Swanky J if she is unable to get the code issues resolved sending some 26 employees to the unemployment line.
She has already closed the former Swanky J, 203 N. Mason, opened since the fall of 2016. Jones said the store will be turned into a gym.
The Rack, 210 N. Mason was purchased by Jones in the summer of 2015 from Andrew Wendt, who renovated the old Russell’s building into the sports bar.
Wendt also created a residential space upstairs. According to fire and code inspections he installed fire suppression and fire alarms downstairs and the fire suppression system was stubbed to the upstairs where it could be extended.

Jones was informed in December she will need to install a fire suppression system upstairs of The Rack in order to remain compliant with city codes with a 60-day time frame.

Read the full story in the mid-week News.