After A Year On The Market, New Owner For City's Oldest Gay Bar

After A Year On The Market, New Owner For City's Oldest Gay BarPhotos: Carrie Sisto/Hoodline
Carrie Sisto
Published on August 08, 2017

San Francisco’s oldest gay bar, the Gangway, appears to have a new owner after being on the market for well over a year. Its new proprietor will be Sam Young, who also owns Kozy Kar on Polk Street and Kozy Kar 2 in Santa Rosa.

As we’ve reported, the bar at 841 Larkin St. (near Geary) was put up for sale by owner Jung Lee after the death of his wife and a drawn-out and costly legal dispute with employees. Lee has owned the business for 19 years.

A deal was seemingly reached in early 2016, but fell through. This is the first indication that a new owner has stepped forward since then. 

The new owner will operate as "Young’s Kung Fu Action Theater & Laundry,” according to the public notice.

According to documents available from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Lee’s liquor license is also being transferred to Young. 

Jim Saxon is the point of contact with the city regarding the liquor license transfer, and he has already listed Gangway—doing business as “Titanic”—in the list of successful transfers on his website.

The Gangway has been in operation for 105 years. There's no word yet on what changes the new business will bring, but we will keep you posted as we learn more.