[Photo: Rose Garrett]

After just under a year in the former Yong San Lounge spot, The Royal Tug Yacht Club is set to close its doors, even with the likes of Duncan Ley, Benjamin Bleiman and Mark DeVito behind it (the veteran team behind Bullitt, Tonic, Lightning Tavern, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, Soda Popinski's and Wild Hare).

DeVito tells us that, although the bar was one of the group's favorites, the rising costs of doing business in San Francisco (including the possibility of a minimum-wage hike) contributed to the decision. The alternative, said DeVito, would be to raise drink prices, which he says is anathema to the bar's character.

The new recipients of the liquor-license transfer will be Presidio Social Club bar manager Tim Stookey, along with Aaron and Leslie Cole. Though we don't know much about what they've got planned just yet, one thing is for certain: they won't be taking the bar's giant squid with them. Though the 20-foot sea monster on the ceiling was a Royal Tug favorite, DeVito tells us that it'll have to go, though he hinted that a dream retirement to a ranch in the redwoods might be in the cephalopod's future (we should all be so lucky).

Though the Royal Tug's exact closing date is dependent on when the liquor license transfer goes through, bar patrons should plan to stop by in the next few weeks to bid farewell.

· The Royal Tug, a Yacht Club For the Rest of Us [~ ESF ~]

· All recent Shutters [~ ESF ~]