Ian Duggan, owner of San Francisco's Irish pub The Liberties since 2019, announced the indefinite closure of his 25-year-old establishment after facing a $160,000 lawsuit from Kalamata Capital Group LLC over a loan taken in 2019. Despite efforts to keep the bar running during the pandemic by offering discounted meals and using personal savings, Duggan now struggles with frozen payroll funds due to creditor disputes, leaving him heartbroken but hopeful for finding someone to take over The Liberties.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Liberties, an Irish pub in San Francisco’s Mission District that has been open since 2002, is facing indefinite closure due to financial difficulties. Owner Ian Duggan took over the bar just before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 and now faces a lawsuit from Kalamata Capital Group LLC over a $160,000 loan. Duggan expressed his desire to keep the establishment open but acknowledged that current legal issues are making it difficult for him to operate. He is actively seeking a new owner or operator who can take over and continue the pub's legacy as a neighborhood staple known for trivia nights, bingo sessions, and live music events.
Written for “Bar Closure Lawsuit” on 2026-10-09,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 67279 · logged 2026-10-09
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.
uncertain
it → announce → door
The Liberties — a fixture on Guerrero Street in San Francisco’s Mission District since 2002 — has shuttered indefinitely, according to Mission Local.
uncertain
Liberties → shutter → 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.
asserted
who → take → loan
“I’m having a legal issue with some creditors who just made it difficult for me to operate.
asserted
me → have → creditors
I am doing what I can to try to find a way forward for the place,” Duggan told the outlet.
asserted
Duggan → do → outlet
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.
asserted
he → mean → operator
“I’d love it to be me, but I care more about the place than I care about me.”
asserted
I → love → 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.
asserted
bar → download → nights
Duggan took over just months before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered local businesses.
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pandemic → take → businesses
The Liberties managed to stay open, providing $5 meals, with Duggan estimating the bar sold over 9,000.
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bar → manage → 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.
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it → award → 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.
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Duggan → use → bar
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.
asserted
which → fight → lawsuit
“That’s what I’m working on now.
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I → ’ → what
In six years, everyone always got paid, through COVID, through everything, until these funds were frozen,” Duggan said.
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Duggan → pay → everything
“Their payroll funds were frozen by liens from the lender dispute.
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funds → freeze → dispute
I’m paying lawyers with the last of my personal funds to get it released to them.
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it → pay → them
I did my best, but it wasn’t enough to stop this.”
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it → do → this
While Duggan is uncertain that The Liberties will ever reopen, he wanted to thank his faithful customers for their years of patronage.
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he → reopen → patronage
“I poured six years of my life into this place.
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I → pour → place
My heart, my sweat, my savings, my retirement, to keep it open as long as I possibly could.” he said.
uncertain
he → keep → it
“I’m frustrated and I’m heartbroken with what’s going on.
asserted
what → ’m → ?
I’m trying to find a way through, but it’s difficult.”
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it → try → way
Anyone who is interested in taking over The Liberties from Duggan can contact him through the email address info@theliberties.com.
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who → take → address
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