California Irish bar closing after 25-year run as $160K battle hammers owner

A beloved San Francisco Irish pub announced that last month that it was closing for the Labor Day holiday now may never opens its door again.

The Liberties — a fixture on Guerrero Street in San Francisco’s Mission District since 2002 — has shuttered indefinitely, according to Mission Local.

Owner Ian Duggan — a local regular who took over the bar just before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 — is currently facing a lawsuit over a $160,000 loan.

“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 the outlet.

“The place has been here for 25 years. It means a lot to me and to a lot of people,” he continued, adding he is currently seeking a new owner/operator to take over.

“I’d love it to be me, but I care more about the place than I care about me.”

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Duggan and his establishment were sued last August by Kalamata Capital Group LLC over the loan, with the proprietor adding: “When I took the money, I had a plan, but it didn’t work.”

The bar opened in 2002 on the corner of Guerrero and 22nd streets, quickly becoming a neighborhood staple, hosting trivia nights, bingo nights and live music sessions.

Duggan took over just months before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered local businesses. The Liberties managed to stay open, providing $5 meals, with Duggan estimating the bar sold over 9,000.

The Liberties was one of just eight local businesses awarded $100,000 in donations from Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, since it was one of their favorite restaurants.

Those funds were used to provide the discounted meals, though Duggan was forced to use his own savings and retirement funds to keep the bar afloat.

Now he’s fighting to free the funds from his creditors to get his employees their final paychecks, which have been frozen due to this lawsuit.

“That’s what I’m working on now. In six years, everyone always got paid, through COVID, through everything, until these funds were frozen,” Duggan said.

“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.”

While Duggan is uncertain that The Liberties will ever reopen, he wanted to thank his faithful customers for their years of patronage.

“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.”

Anyone who is interested in taking over The Liberties from Duggan can contact him through the email address info@theliberties.com.