Home Digital Fame Alert 1

The Infamous 'Porn Couch' And $188,000 Debt: The Full Story Of Park 77 Bar And The Lister Update 2025

• minute read
Contents
The name "Park 77 Bar" is permanently etched into reality television infamy, not for its cocktails or ambiance, but for a shocking controversy involving an adult film shoot that took place on the premises. This incident, combined with massive debt and poor management, became the central focus of a dramatic intervention by Jon Taffer on the Paramount Network's *Bar Rescue* in 2014. As of December 19, 2025, the establishment, which was later renamed The Lister, has officially closed its doors, leaving behind a legacy defined by financial ruin and the unforgettable "porn couch" scandal. The bar's tumultuous history serves as a cautionary tale for aspiring bar owners, highlighting how a single, disastrous decision can immediately and irreparably damage a business's reputation and bottom line. The story of Park 77 is a complex narrative of a family business, a lucrative location near a major university, and a scandalous event that ultimately sealed its fate.

The Basso Family and The Park 77/Lister Bar Profile

The establishment that became known as Park 77, and later The Lister, was located at 77 Cambon Dr in the Park Merced neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Its prime real estate, situated near the sprawling campus of San Francisco State University (SFSU), should have guaranteed a thriving student clientele. The bar's profile, however, was marked by management issues and financial distress long before its scandalous moment in the spotlight.

Key People & Bar Details:

  • Original Name: Park 77 Bar
  • Bar Rescue Name: The Lister
  • Location: 77 Cambon Dr, San Francisco, CA 94132
  • Original Owner: Tano Basso (An electrician who bought the bar in 2011, following a family tradition in the bar and restaurant business).
  • Co-Owner/Brother: Wayne Basso (Helped with funding and was often involved in the bar's operations).
  • Debt at Time of Rescue: An astonishing $188,000, including significant tax liabilities.
  • Bar Rescue Episode: Season 4, Episode 52 (Original air date: 2014)
  • Concept After Rescue: Re-branded as "The Lister" to appeal to a broader, more sophisticated clientele, moving away from the struggling neighborhood sports bar identity.

Tano Basso, despite having family experience in the hospitality industry, struggled to manage the bar effectively. The *Bar Rescue* episode revealed that both Tano and his brother Wayne were frequently drinking on the job, leading to poor decision-making, mismanagement, and a general decline in the bar's operations. This environment of chaos and poor oversight set the stage for the controversy that would define the bar's legacy.

The Shocking December 2012 Porn Shoot Controversy

The search term "Park 77 Bar porn" refers to a specific, verifiable event that took place inside the establishment on December 20, 2012. This incident was not a rumor but a documented event that was discovered by the *Bar Rescue* team during their initial reconnaissance. The revelation of the event was one of the most dramatic moments in the show's history, showcasing the depth of the bar's degradation.

The Incident Details:

The controversy centered on the fact that an adult film was shot inside Park 77. Multiple reports, including details found via a Facebook Event page by the *Bar Rescue* producers, confirmed the shoot. The most damaging detail, and the reason the story became so widespread, was the allegation that the filming occurred during business hours, or at least in a setting where it was easily accessible and known to patrons and staff.

The key piece of evidence that Jon Taffer used to confront the owners was the actual video footage, which was reportedly found online. The segment highlighted a specific piece of furniture—a couch—that became instantly infamous and was dubbed the "porn couch." The existence of the film and the knowledge of the shoot drove away the bar's remaining respectable customers, particularly the students from SFSU who were the bar's primary target demographic.

This single event was not just a moral or ethical failure; it was a profound business failure. For a bar situated next to a major university, a reputation for hosting an adult film shoot is a death sentence for attracting a clean, student-friendly crowd. The controversy underscored the lack of professional management and the excessive drinking by the owners, which had led to such a catastrophic lapse in judgment. The removal of the "porn couch" became a symbolic act of Jon Taffer's attempt to cleanse the bar's toxic image.

The Lister's Final Years and Definitive Closure Update 2025

Following the dramatic intervention, which included a $188,000 debt revelation and the "porn couch" cleanup, Jon Taffer rebranded Park 77 as The Lister. The name was a nod to the concept of a "list" or a high-end, curated experience, attempting to completely separate the new establishment from the shame of its past. The new concept focused on a more refined atmosphere and a better drink menu, hoping to attract a professional clientele alongside the university crowd.

The Post-Rescue Trajectory:

The Lister initially showed signs of potential success, managing to survive for approximately six years after the *Bar Rescue* episode aired. This is a respectable run for a bar featured on the show, many of which close much sooner. The owners reportedly made efforts to implement Taffer's "Taffer's Rules" and maintain the new concept.

However, the financial issues and the lasting impact of the original controversy proved too much to overcome. The substantial debt, combined with the difficulty of completely shedding the negative reputation, eventually led to the bar's demise. The closure of The Lister confirmed that even a complete rebranding and a high-profile television rescue could not save a business fundamentally damaged by its own management and a major scandal.

The Definitive 2025 Status:

As of the most recent available updates in 2025, The Lister (formerly Park 77 Bar) is officially CLOSED. The address at 77 Cambon Dr in San Francisco is no longer operating as the establishment rescued by Jon Taffer. This closure solidifies the bar's place in *Bar Rescue* lore as a business that, despite a second chance, ultimately succumbed to its legacy of debt, mismanagement, and the unforgettable porn shoot scandal. The story of Park 77 remains a powerful reminder that reputation is a bar's most valuable, and fragile, asset.

Topical Authority & Related Entities:

  • San Francisco State University (SFSU)
  • Park Merced Neighborhood
  • Jon Taffer's Rules
  • Reality Television Controversy
  • Bar and Restaurant News
  • Basso Family Business
  • The Luck of the Irish (Episode Revisit)
  • Taffer's Stress Test
  • Nightclub & Bar Media Group
  • Financial Debt & Tax Issues
  • Bar Operations Management
  • Mixology and Cocktail Menu
  • Neighborhood Sports Bar Concept
  • The Lister's Logo and Branding
  • The $188,000 Owed
park 77 bar porn
park 77 bar porn

Detail Author:

  • Name : Beatrice Kessler
  • Username : lincoln.yost
  • Email : bridie19@friesen.com
  • Birthdate : 1981-05-19
  • Address : 7902 Arthur Burg Apt. 036 McDermottberg, TX 21376-0819
  • Phone : 937-941-7271
  • Company : Casper-Cruickshank
  • Job : Highway Maintenance Worker
  • Bio : Nisi veniam sequi modi corrupti reiciendis. Et voluptatem earum saepe ut sed aut ea. Quibusdam non et et laudantium voluptatibus est est. In harum natus molestiae est sunt natus.

Socials

linkedin:

tiktok:

  • url : https://tiktok.com/@eastonwiegand
  • username : eastonwiegand
  • bio : Dolorem ipsam explicabo veritatis consequatur consequatur iusto.
  • followers : 6433
  • following : 1187

Random Posts