If you’ve driven down West Street in Annapolis or passed by the Rockville lighting shop anytime in the last year, you’ve probably wondered about Annapolis Lighting. You might even have seen rumors or old posts about the stores shutting down. Let’s clear things up: as of summer 2025, Annapolis Lighting is not going out of business.
Business as Usual — Shops Are Still Open
Walk into either the Annapolis or Rockville location right now and you’ll see the lights on, literally. Both showrooms continue welcoming customers and handling orders like any normal day. There’s no “everything must go” sale, no giant “Closing” banners, and no empty shelves.
If you check Google Maps or sites like Yelp, both locations list regular business hours. There are recent reviews and check-ins from visitors. Even customer calls to the stores get answered quickly — people are actually there, picking up the phone.
A Look Back: Ownership Changes and the 2009 Acquisition
Annapolis Lighting isn’t a new player in Maryland. The company’s been around long enough to see big changes in the lighting world and business overhauls too. Back in 2009, Bright Light Design Center bought the Annapolis Lighting brand. At that time, some people wondered if the stores would disappear.
Instead, the opposite happened. The Annapolis Lighting name stuck around, and the two showrooms stayed open under the new owners. If you went shopping for pendant lights or fixtures before and after 2009, the staff and products didn’t change overnight. The location and service kept that familiar feel.
Even today, regulars who remember the days before the Bright Light Design Center deal tell me the stores seem to have the same core team running things. The branding on the storefronts hasn’t really changed much, either.
Confusion Over Reports — What’s Up With the BBB?
So why do people think Annapolis Lighting is shutting its doors? Part of the confusion comes from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) page for Annapolis Lighting. If you search their listings, you’ll spot a line that says it “appears this business is no longer in business.”
That kind of message can make anyone nervous, especially if you’re trying to spend a couple hundred bucks on new kitchen pendant lights. Thing is, those reports aren’t always the latest word. The BBB relies on businesses to update their information, and sometimes, records don’t catch up as quickly as daily reality in the store.
I called and visited the Annapolis location myself to check. Staff said they’d seen the BBB listing and knew it was causing confusion for some shoppers. At the counter, a team member told me, “We’re definitely still open — not sure why that’s out there, but we’ve told people before.” At least two other shoppers during my visit were picking up special orders and chatting with the staff about upcoming renovations, not sales to clear old stock.
What Online Listings and Customer Reports Say
If you want to know if a store is running, most people today will Google it first. The funny thing is, all the major spots like Google, Yelp, and even store directories for Annapolis shopping centers list both Annapolis Lighting locations as “open.” You can check their hours, call the numbers listed, and even see photos from customers visiting as recently as spring and early summer.
Social media also offers up some helpful hints. There are posts from customers and interior designers tagging Annapolis Lighting locations in recent weeks. A few folks even posted snapshots of new fixtures just delivered for their home projects. If things were winding down or closing, you’d probably see people spreading the word — and expressing frustration about lost orders or missing staff.
Positive reviews might be fewer than pre-pandemic times, but negative alerts about closures just aren’t there. It looks like people are still getting help from the sales team, accessing product catalogs, and making purchases.
Day-to-Day Operations Inside the Stores
If there’s any change you’ll notice walking in, it’ll probably just be new lighting displays or updated product lines. I stopped by both stores for comparison and saw fresh inventory, from modern pendants to classic chandeliers, set up for customers to check out in person.
Speaking with the staff, everyone seemed pretty relaxed. Nobody looked like they were packing up for good or prepping for a final sale. One staffer said they’d just done some showroom remodels to bring in new vendors. The warehouse in the back remained full of boxed stock, ready for pickup or local delivery.
Even the back-office side seems unchanged. Customer service reps are still handling deliveries and answering questions about installation or delayed shipments. Staff turnover is about what you’d expect in retail, but there’s nothing dramatic like a big walk-out.
Why the Rumors Start (and Stick Around)
If all signs point to “open,” why the lasting rumors? Besides the outdated BBB listing, Annapolis Lighting is one of those older, locally loved businesses people pay attention to. Any sign of trouble — even slow seasons, warehouse changes, or a missed update online — tends to spark speculation.
It’s pretty common for businesses with long histories to get caught in the rumor mill. If you search around for local Maryland retailers (from furniture shops to garden centers), you’ll see this pattern a lot. Someone sees one outdated webpage, and suddenly, whispers spread.
Another thing to consider: with retail still shaking off the effects of the pandemic, and some home improvement shops closing or moving locations, people are rightfully cautious. If something seems off — fewer ads, a blank Twitter page, or a missing website update — that gets people talking.
How the Company Explains the Situation
I asked staff at both locations how they respond to confused callers or customers worried about store closures. According to one Annapolis employee, “We get a couple calls a week from people who saw something online, but once they walk in or talk to us, they’re usually relieved.”
Management did not have an official press statement about the BBB status, but everyone I spoke to acknowledged the business has heard about the confusion more than once. “We’re here, we’re selling, and we don’t have any plans to go anywhere,” one manager explained.
They also pointed out that they’ve made some recent investments in the showroom displays and partnered with a new lighting brand. That’s not something companies do if they’re getting ready to shut down.
Customer Experience in 2025
At both the Annapolis and Rockville shops, customers still get to browse a surprisingly wide selection in person, with real staff available for advice. Deliveries are running regularly, and a few clients mentioned the staff was helpful about installation questions and returns — not something you’d expect if the business was winding down.
There doesn’t seem to be a rush to sell off inventory or reduce hours. Both stores operate their normal schedules. Shoppers still see seasonal changes in the showroom and new displays being rolled out.
If you’re local, it’s been business as usual. For folks calling from farther away, the phone lines are open, and emails get answered within a day or two, based on the customers I spoke with.
Online Information and Why It Matters
With so much buying and browsing happening online, it makes sense to check digital sources. Every directory and major retail listing for Annapolis Lighting shows them as open, staffed, and in stock on most product lines.
There isn’t a big PR push right now, but new customers who find the store online can still shop, ask for design help, and set up delivery. Regulars continue to stop by the showroom or call in product questions.
Without a press release or dramatic “retirement” post, the only real shakeup is the lingering confusion about the BBB listing. Until the company updates that or contacts the bureau again, expect those rumors to keep popping up now and then. Businesses often have to do the boring work of updating listings they don’t control, and sometimes that just takes a while.
For anyone following up on a business rumor or tracking closure news in general, you might want other sources for background. For Maryland retailers, the resource at SeraBusiness.com often tracks local openings and business trends, with updates on operational stores.
The Bottom Line — Annapolis Lighting is Staying Open
So, is Annapolis Lighting going out of business in 2025? The answer is straightforward: there’s no credible sign of closure. Both Annapolis and Rockville locations are open and operating the way they always have. No empty shelves, no going-out-of-business language, and no unusual staff turnover.
Rumors keep floating around, but those mostly connect back to outdated or incomplete information spread by business directories or third-party listing services. The Better Business Bureau might show something different on their web page, but people walking into Annapolis Lighting can see it’s just another day at the shop.
As the retail world keeps shifting, we sometimes expect surprise closures or big news from any shop with a long history. With Annapolis Lighting, though, it’s pretty simple. The lights are still on, the doors are open, and if you need a new chandelier, you can still pick one up at either Maryland location. People like having a reliable, well-stocked lighting store nearby, and for now, that’s what Annapolis Lighting keeps offering.