San Francisco Irish Pub Faces Indefinite Closure Amid $160K Loan Dispute
The Liberties, a Mission District fixture since 2002, is seeking a new owner as its current operator battles creditors.
The Liberties, a San Francisco Irish pub that has been a fixture on Guerrero Street in the Mission District since 2002, has shuttered indefinitely. Owner Ian Duggan, who took over the bar just before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, is currently facing a lawsuit over a $160,000 loan and is actively seeking a new owner to take over the establishment.
"I’m having a legal issue with some creditors who just made it difficult for me to operate. I am doing what I can to try to find a way forward for the place," Duggan told Mission Local. "The place has been here for 25 years. It means a lot to me and to a lot of people."
Duggan and The Liberties were sued last August by Kalamata Capital Group LLC over the loan. "When I took the money, I had a plan, but it didn’t work," Duggan stated.
The pub originally opened on the corner of Guerrero and 22nd streets, becoming a neighborhood staple known for hosting trivia nights, bingo nights, and live music. Duggan took ownership just months before the COVID-19 pandemic forced local businesses to close.
During the pandemic, The Liberties managed to stay open, offering $5 meals and selling over 9,000. The establishment also received $100,000 in donations from Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, as it was one of their favorite restaurants. These funds were used to provide the discounted meals.
Duggan stated that he used his own savings and retirement funds to keep the bar afloat. He is now working to unfreeze employee payroll funds, which have been frozen due to the lawsuit. "Their payroll funds were frozen by liens from the lender dispute. I’m paying lawyers with the last of my personal funds to get it released to them. I did my best, but it wasn’t enough to stop this," he explained.
While the future of The Liberties remains uncertain, Duggan expressed gratitude to his customers. "I poured six years of my life into this place. My heart, my sweat, my savings, my retirement, to keep it open as long as I possibly could," he said. "I’m frustrated and I’m heartbroken with what’s going on. I’m trying to find a way through, but it’s difficult."
Interested parties looking to take over The Liberties can contact Duggan at [email protected].