College bar closes in SLO after just 3 years

A craft beer pub geared toward Cal Poly students has closed for good in San Luis Obispo.

Launch and Ladder Pub announced on Instagram that Tuesday would be its last night, with a performance by local band For the Sake of the Fantasy ending the bar’s three-year run.

The pub at the corner of Foothill Boulevard and Santa Rosa Street opened in 2023, after owner Mike Gasbarra took a “lengthy hiatus from the brick and mortar world of beer,” according to the business’ information on Yelp.

It advertised itself on Instagram as “the closest bar to Cal Poly.”

Launch and Ladder was listed on Facebook Marketplace for $35,000 on March 7, then again on March 31, advertised as a “turnkey business opportunity close to Cal Poly” with a catering license included.

No comments on both separate posts expressed interest in the business, and Launch and Ladder had not responded to The Tribune’s calls as of Tuesday afternoon.