A cherished Irish pub in San Francisco, The Liberties, announced last month it would be closing for the Labor Day holiday, but now it may face an indefinite shutdown.
Located on Guerrero Street in the Mission District, The Liberties has been a neighborhood staple since opening in 2002, as reported by Mission Local.
The owner, Ian Duggan, who took over shortly before the pandemic hit in 2019, is currently tangled in a legal battle concerning a $160,000 loan.
Duggan expressed his frustration, saying, “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.” He emphasized the pub’s importance, stating, “The place has been here for 25 years. It means a lot to me and to a lot of people,” and mentioned he is looking for someone to step in as a new owner/operator.
While he admits he would prefer it to be him, his priority is the establishment itself, saying, “I care more about the place than I care about me.”
Duggan, who is facing a lawsuit from Kalamata Capital Group LLC over the loan, reflected, “When I took the money, I had a plan, but it didn’t work.”
Opened in 2002 at the corner of Guerrero and 22nd streets, The Liberties quickly became popular for events like trivia and bingo nights, as well as live music.
After taking over, Duggan managed to keep the bar open during the pandemic by offering $5 meals, selling around 9,000 of them, which helped sustain the business.
Interestingly, The Liberties was one of only eight local businesses to receive a $100,000 donation from Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, as it was one of their favorite spots. However, Duggan had to dip into his personal savings and retirement to help keep the bar going.
Currently, he’s working to release frozen payroll funds, as his employees are waiting for their final paychecks, which were put on hold due to the ongoing lawsuit. He lamented, “In six years, everyone always got paid, through COVID, through everything, until these funds were frozen.”
While Duggan is doubtful about the pub’s future, he expressed gratitude to loyal customers for their support over the years, stating, “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.”
Feeling both frustrated and heartbroken, he noted, “I’m trying to find a way through, but it’s difficult.” If anyone is interested in taking over The Liberties, they can reach out to him at [email protected].
