Last call

After 47 years, Chico’s venerable Towne Lounge is shutting down. Owner Woody Sjostrom (pictured) has been trying to unload the Main Street bar for a couple of years. In January, he sold the liquor license to Scott Baldwin, who’s looking to open a bar on Second Street, next to the El Rey Theatre.

But that process was stymied when the El Rey’s owner, Eric Hart, filed a protest with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Hart said he didn’t think it was a proper location for a bar. Others suggested Hart was feuding with his brother, Michael, who owns the building in which Baldwin wants to set up his bar.

Last week, Hart dropped his protest, allowing the license transfer to go forward. Sjostrom, who expressed relief, said the Lounge’s last day will be May 31. Baldwin said he is looking to open his bar, The Argus, on Sept. 1.