{"id":489856,"date":"2026-10-09T01:40:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T01:40:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/489856\/"},"modified":"2026-10-09T01:40:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T01:40:15","slug":"san-francisco-irish-bar-closing-after-25-year-run-as-160k-battle-hammers-owner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/489856\/","title":{"rendered":"San Francisco Irish bar closing after 25-year run as $160K battle hammers owner"},"content":{"rendered":"

A beloved San Francisco Irish pub<\/a> that last month announced its closure for the Labor Day holiday may never open its doors again.<\/p>\n

The Liberties \u2014 a fixture on Guerrero Street in San Francisco\u2019s Mission District<\/a> since 2002 \u2014 has shuttered indefinitely, according to Mission Local<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

Beloved San Francisco Irish pub The Liberties announced last month it was closing for the Labor Day holiday, but now may never reopen. Instagram\/theliberties<\/p>\n

The Liberties became a fixture on Guerrero Street in San Francisco\u2019s Mission District after opening in 2002. theliberties.com<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m 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,\u201d Duggan told the outlet.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe place has been here for 25 years. It means a lot to me and to a lot of people,\u201d he continued, adding he is currently seeking a new owner\/operator to take over. \u201cI\u2019d love it to be me, but I care more about the place than I care about me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Duggan and his establishment were sued last August by Kalamata Capital Group LLC<\/a> over the loan, with the proprietor adding: \u201cWhen I took the money, I had a plan, but it didn\u2019t work.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Liberties managed to stay open during the COVID pandemic, providing $5 meals. Instagram\/theliberties<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Now he\u2019s fighting to free the funds from his creditors to get his employees their final paychecks, which have been frozen due to this lawsuit.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m working on now. In six years, everyone always got paid, through COVID, through everything, until these funds were frozen,\u201d Duggan said. \u201cTheir payroll funds were frozen by liens from the lender dispute. I\u2019m paying lawyers with the last of my personal funds to get it released to them. I did my best, but it wasn\u2019t enough to stop this.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

The Liberties was one of just eight local businesses awarded $100,000 in donations from Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan. Instagram\/theliberties<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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.\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m frustrated and I\u2019m heartbroken with what\u2019s going on. I\u2019m trying to find a way through, but it\u2019s difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anyone who is interested in taking over The Liberties from Duggan can contact him through the email address info@theliberties.com.<\/p>\n

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