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The Liberties, 25-year Mission District pub, closes indefinitely

The Liberties, 25-year Mission District pub, closes indefinitely

Money Moves San Francisco, CA local

Owner faces $160K lawsuit as the 22nd and Guerrero fixture stays closed

October 7th, 2026: The Liberties closes indefinitely

Overview

Updated Oct 16

The Liberties, the Irish pub at 22nd and Guerrero, has closed indefinitely. Owner Ian Duggan faces a lawsuit over a roughly $160,000 loan from Black Olive Capital LLC, filed in August in New York.

Liens from the dispute froze his payroll funds, he said. He is using his remaining personal money to pay lawyers and get employee paychecks released. Duggan, who bought the bar in 2019, is considering finding a new operator to keep the business going.

Why it matters

The Liberties anchored 22nd and Guerrero for 25 years; it's one more long-running San Francisco bar to close this decade.

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Key Indicators

25
Years in business
The owner said the pub had been there for 25 years when it closed.
2019
Year of ownership change
Owner Ian bought the pub from its original founder.
$160K
Lawsuit amount
Unpaid balance Black Olive Capital LLC says it is owed, after penalties, attorney fees and interest.

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People Involved

I
Ian
Owner, The Liberties
Closed the bar indefinitely after citing creditor issues; facing $160K lawsuit

Organizations Involved

The Liberties
The Liberties
Neighborhood pub and restaurant
Closed indefinitely

A European-style neighborhood pub at 22nd and Guerrero serving food, cocktails, and beer since 2002.

Timeline

2002 October 2026

5 events Latest: October 7th, 2026 · 1 month ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. The Liberties closes indefinitely

    Latest Closure

    Owner Ian says creditor issues make it too difficult to keep operating.

  2. Bar stays closed after Labor Day

    Closure

    Duggan announced on Instagram the bar would close for Labor Day and reopen Tuesday. It never reopened.

  3. Lawsuit filed over $160K loan

    Legal

    Black Olive Capital LLC sued owner Ian Duggan in New York over an unpaid balance of nearly $160,000 after penalties, attorney fees and interest.

  4. Ownership changes hands

    Ownership

    Regular customer Ian buys the bar from its original founder.

  5. The Liberties opens

    Opening

    The pub opens at 22nd and Guerrero in San Francisco's Mission District.

Scenarios

1

The Liberties reopens under current ownership

Possible Resolves by Apr 7, 2027

Discussed by: Mission Local reporting; the owner's use of 'indefinitely' rather than 'permanently'

Ian finds a way to restructure or pay down the bar's debts, through a settlement, new financing, or an investor, and reopens The Liberties at 22nd and Guerrero. The indefinite wording in the closure announcement leaves this possibility open.

2

New owners take over The Liberties

Possible Resolves by Oct 7, 2027

Discussed by: The bar's 2019 ownership transition shows the business can change hands

A buyer acquires The Liberties, its liquor license, or its lease, and reopens it as a bar. This would require resolving or assuming the existing debts, which may lower the purchase price.

3

The Liberties closes permanently

Likely Resolves by Oct 7, 2027

Discussed by: Recent San Francisco bar and brewery closures suggest permanent shutdowns are common when debt loads are heavy

Creditor issues turn out to be unresolvable. The lease is surrendered, the liquor license is cancelled or transferred to a non-bar tenant, and the corner gets a new occupant or sits empty.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

July 2023

Anchor Brewing closes (2023)

Anchor Steam, San Francisco's 127-year-old brewery, stopped production in July 2023 after owner Sapporo put the company into bankruptcy. It had been a craft beer pioneer since 1896.

Then

The Potrero Hill brewery shut down. The brand and recipes were later sold out of bankruptcy.

Now

Anchor became a symbol of craft beer consolidation, and the brand was eventually revived under new ownership.

Why this matters now

Shows that even the most storied San Francisco alcohol brands fail when finances break down, the same pressure The Liberties now faces.

September 2025

21st Amendment Brewery closes (2025)

21st Amendment, a craft brewery founded in 2000 near Oracle Park, announced in September 2025 it would close its San Francisco brewpub and San Leandro facility. Its lender withdrew financing, citing a 'cash bleed' and industry downturn.

Then

Operations wound down by November 2025.

Now

The brand found new life through a partnership with Evil Genius Beer Company.

Why this matters now

Like The Liberties, which opened in 2002, 21st Amendment (founded in 2000) collapsed under financial pressure during a hard stretch for the alcohol business.

Sources

(7)
+1
Mission Local The Liberties Beer Street Journal La Vie Zine New York Post Wisevoter San Francisco Chronicle