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San Diego's Historic Til-Two Club Changes Hands Amid Bitter Legal Feud, Unpaid Judgment And Explosive Accusations

One of San Diego's most storied rock-and-roll bars has a new operator, but the transition is anything but ordinary. After years of lawsuits, a six-figure court judgment, accusations of theft and an increasingly vicious social media feud, City Heights' historic Til-Two Club is undergoing a major overhaul under a longtime local blues musician, who says he inherited a partially dismantled establishment in need of extensive cleaning, repairs and replacement equipment.

The latest chapter in the saga surrounding Til-Two Club at 4746 El Cajon Boulevard has all the ingredients of a rock-and-roll soap opera: former business partners, a disputed $230,000 sale, years of courtroom battles, a judgment that remains unpaid, public accusations of dishonesty, canceled concerts and an Instagram account dedicated to attacking the bar's most recent operators. Now, as the outgoing ownership group awaits the proceeds of a proposed $130,000 liquor-license sale, the incoming operator is attempting to restore the historic venue while distancing himself from the controversy that has engulfed it.

Lawrence "Larry" Teves, better known throughout San Diego's music community as Chickenbone Slim, confirmed to SanDiegoVille that he has assumed complete operational control of Til-Two Club through his newly formed company, Til Two Club LLC. Although the purchase remains in escrow pending final California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control paperwork, Teves has secured a temporary license allowing him to operate the bar while the transfer is completed.

What he encountered during the transition, however, was hardly a turnkey nightclub.

"The stock, personal items and assets were liquidated October 7th, 2026," Teves told SanDiegoVille. "Additionally, other fixtures such as the light fixtures, booths, mounted speakers and cooler and other items were removed. We've been able to reopen after much cleanup and restocking."

When asked who was responsible for the liquidation, Teves identified one of the central figures in the longstanding legal dispute.

"It was liquidated by Rossler and several others October 7th," Teves said, referring to former Til-Two owner Michael "Mick" Rossler. "Evidently, he took video [posted on Instagram] the night before, during, and the aftermath."

Teves did not provide documentation establishing which specific items Rossler removed or the legal basis for their removal. However, the account introduces another twist in a bitter dispute over the original sale of the business and the rights to its remaining assets.

"I'm thankful for what I was left," Teves added. "Nowhere to go, but up!"

The transition has also involved an unusual condition reportedly imposed by the property's management. According to Teves, the landlord made clear that Rossler could have no involvement in the new business if Teves wanted to secure a lease.

"I was told by the property manager in no uncertain [terms] that if Mick Rossler was involved in my business in anyway on the ownership side or otherwise they would not give me a lease," Teves wrote in a follow-up email.

SanDiegoVille has not independently confirmed that condition with the property manager or established the reasons behind it. Nevertheless, the statement illustrates just how contentious the nightclub's recent history has become, even as a new operator attempts to move forward.

Til-Two Club occupies one of El Cajon Boulevard's most recognizable vintage nightlife spaces, with roots dating to the 1940s. Over the decades, the property has operated under several names, including The Playhouse, Club Recognize and Beauty Bar, before Rossler and Dannielle Cobb acquired the establishment in 2010 and restored its original Til-Two identity.

The restoration revived the building's midcentury character, including its distinctive neon signage, glass-block features and vintage aesthetic. The effort helped transform the venue into a destination for San Diego's independent music community, hosting everything from punk rock and heavy metal to hip-hop, comedy and alternative performances.

Among the acts associated with the venue during Rossler and Cobb's ownership were Marky Ramone, The Undertones, Too Short, La Santa Cecilia, Sister Nancy, The Zeros, Battalion of Saints and numerous local musicians. The property also survived a redevelopment threat in 2016, when preservation advocates pushed to protect its historic character as nearby housing was planned.

Rossler, who also owns City Heights' Tower Bar, eventually decided to sell Til-Two in 2018. What was supposed to be a straightforward business transaction instead became the foundation for a legal dispute that would drag on for years and fracture relationships within San Diego's closely connected music and hospitality communities.

The original transaction, conducted through Rossler's RONRO Enterprises LLC, valued the business at approximately $230,000. According to court documents reviewed by SanDiegoVille, the agreement called for $110,000 upfront and $120,000 in seller financing, with interest at 6% and a balloon payment due after two years.

The original buyers included local chefs Alex Carballo and Julie Darling. Carballo subsequently exited the operating partnership, while criminal defense attorney Matthew Koken and his then-wife, Delanie "Dottie DeVille" Gomes, became involved in the business.

The parties would later offer sharply conflicting accounts of what the incoming partners knew about the financing arrangement and who was responsible for repaying the remaining debt. What is not disputed is that payments stopped in December 2019.

In June 2020, RONRO Enterprises filed a lawsuit in San Diego Superior Court seeking to recover the unpaid balance from Til Two LLC. The litigation eventually expanded into a complicated dispute involving allegations of misrepresentation, disagreements over ownership obligations, counterclaims and attempts to enforce a security interest in the bar's assets.

In December 2023, Superior Court Judge Robert C. Longstreth granted summary adjudication in favor of RONRO on its breach-of-contract claim against Til Two LLC. The court determined that the operating company was a party to the promissory note and security agreement and had failed to establish a legally sufficient basis for avoiding the obligation.

The ruling specifically noted that Til Two LLC had initially made payments consistent with the purchase documents before stopping in December 2019. The court also rejected the argument that the debt belonged exclusively to Carballo rather than the company itself.

The case continued into 2025, when further proceedings addressed foreclosure of secured business assets and the defendants' counterclaims. A proposed judgment dated May 21, 2025, reviewed by SanDiegoVille awarded RONRO $115,511.89 against Til Two LLC and provided for foreclosure of the company's secured business assets. The document also reflected rulings against several claims brought by the Til-Two defendants, including fraud and negligence claims against the Carballos.

Additional attorney-fee proceedings followed, although SanDiegoVille has not independently established the total amount currently owed, including any awarded fees, costs and accrued interest. The $115,511.89 award was against Til Two LLC and should not be interpreted as a finding that every individual involved in operating the establishment was personally responsible for the debt.

The legal proceedings, however, did not produce the financial resolution Rossler had sought.

"I have not received a single penny since the 2025 trial, or since December of 2019," Rossler told SanDiegoVille.

Rossler maintains that he extended financing in good faith and was subsequently forced to spend years pursuing payment for a business he had already sold. He has also accused the former operators of engaging in bad-faith settlement negotiations and making false statements about the underlying dispute.

"I would characterize those negotiations as bad-faith and spitting in my face," Rossler said.

Gomes disputes that characterization, maintaining that the operators repeatedly attempted to negotiate settlements but encountered disagreements concerning the original financing documents, responsibility for the debt, proposed payment arrangements and other complications.

According to Gomes, Koken began making payments after learning about the seller-financed obligation but sought additional documentation clarifying the contractual responsibilities of the various parties. She says the operators subsequently explored installment arrangements, lump-sum settlements and potential transfers of business assets.

Those explanations do not change the court's determination that Til Two LLC was contractually obligated to pay the debt, but they illustrate the conflicting narratives that have fueled the dispute.

In his latest correspondence with SanDiegoVille, Rossler expressed frustration that questions about the ongoing social media controversy were being raised alongside the outstanding financial obligations.

"I'm curious as to whether you think this case is more about people owing a family with young children half a million dollars they never paid for, or is it more about an Instagram account?" Rossler wrote on October 13.

The statement is Rossler's characterization of the amount owed, not an independently verified accounting. SanDiegoVille asked him to provide the final signed judgment, subsequent attorney-fee award and current balance, but those documents were not furnished in response to the latest inquiry. The publication therefore cannot confirm whether the total obligation has reached the approximately $500,000 figure he referenced.

The dispute has meanwhile spilled onto social media in increasingly personal fashion. An Instagram account operating under the handle @tiltwoclubarethieves has published repeated posts attacking the former operators of Til-Two Club, accusing them of dishonesty, financial misconduct and mistreating people associated with the venue. The account has also circulated criticism of the club's operations, questioned advertised performances and shared screenshots of confrontational messages directed at the establishment.

The account's provocative name leaves little doubt about its position, but the allegations it publishes are not, by themselves, evidence of criminal theft or fraud. The civil court's finding that Til Two LLC breached its contractual obligations does not establish that its individual operators committed theft.

One recent post alleged that concerts advertised on Til-Two's website for October 14, 15 and 16 were actually scheduled at other San Diego venues. The account identified performances reportedly taking place at Banshee Bar, McGuffie's Live and Tower Bar rather than Til-Two. The October 15 discrepancy received additional attention when an Instagram user identifying himself as a musician on the Bongfather bill commented that his band was performing at McGuffie's, not Til-Two.

"My band is on the bill. The show is actually happening at McGuffies's. I don't know why they have it listed," the commenter wrote.

The account accused the venue of misleading prospective concertgoers, although SanDiegoVille has not independently established whether the discrepancies resulted from outdated listings, booking changes, website maintenance during the ownership transition or intentional misrepresentation.

Other posts criticized the cancellation of a King Flamingo performance and circulated accusations about the former management's treatment of musicians and patrons. The campaign has also included personal attacks against Gomes, Koken and Darling, extending beyond the underlying financial dispute into their relationships, lifestyles and professional reputations.

More recently, the account shared footage purporting to show filthy conditions and rodent droppings inside the nightclub. SanDiegoVille has not independently authenticated the footage, established when it was recorded or confirmed the conditions through an independent inspection.

Although the account's posts prominently advocate Rossler's position, its ownership and control have not been independently verified. SanDiegoVille asked Rossler about his involvement with the account and the circumstances under which the footage was obtained, but he did not directly answer those questions.

Notably, the @tiltwoclubarethieves Instagram account has also blocked SanDiegoVille without explanation, preventing the publication from directly accessing its posts through its own account while investigating the controversy. The decision is particularly curious given the account’s ongoing efforts to publicize allegations against the former operators and shape the public narrative surrounding the dispute. SanDiegoVille has received no explanation for why an independent news outlet examining those very allegations was blocked.

Gomes maintains that the social media campaign has presented a distorted, one-sided account of the dispute. She has also alleged that the conflict involved threats, harassment and physical confrontations, claims SanDiegoVille has not independently corroborated.

What began as a disagreement over an unpaid business loan has thus evolved into a public battle over reputations, the history of the venue and who deserves the support of San Diego's independent music community. Against that contentious backdrop, the latest ownership transition has introduced another unusual twist.

According to Gomes, Teves agreed to purchase the establishment's liquor license for approximately $130,000, with the transaction proceeds held in escrow while attorneys address outstanding creditor claims.

"The funds are being held in escrow and have been sitting there for a while now," Gomes told SanDiegoVille.

She confirmed that Rossler's judgment had been submitted as a creditor claim but said she did not know whether the sale proceeds would ultimately satisfy the debt or how the funds would be distributed.

Teves clarified that the purchase is being handled through an ABC asset sale benefiting creditors, a process that allows the license transfer to proceed while creditor claims are addressed through escrow.

"First, I'm buying the license on what's called an ABC sale. 'Asset sale, benefiting creditors,'" Teves explained.

The transaction has not officially closed, although he anticipates completion once the remaining state paperwork is processed.

"The purchase is still technically in escrow, as the final ABC paperwork is in process, and they don't give us a timeline," Teves said. "I have a temporary license good through late December to run the club in the meantime, and we should close in the next week or so."

California ABC records previously reviewed by SanDiegoVille show that Til Two Club LLC applied on August 20, 2026, to assume the establishment's liquor license.

The transaction is particularly significant because Teves says he is purchasing only the license and associated rights, not the former operators' inventory, furniture or other physical assets. Separately, he has negotiated to assume the club's lease and has reached an agreement concerning the neighboring property.

"During the last year, as we've attempted to purchase the club, the landlord credit checked me, and negotiated assuming the lease for the club," Teves said.

The distinction between the license purchase and the physical assets became unmistakable on October 7, when the outgoing operation liquidated property and fixtures were removed from the establishment.

Gomes says the liquidation was anticipated as part of the transition and that Teves had arranged to bring in replacement equipment. She maintains that the former operators attempted to coordinate the removal of property while preparing for the incoming business.

"We planned for the liquidation," Gomes told SanDiegoVille.

The disposition of the assets raises questions because RONRO's original security agreement covered certain furniture, fixtures, equipment, inventory, goodwill and other business property, and the 2025 proposed judgment provided foreclosure relief involving that collateral.

Gomes provided correspondence dated October 4, 2026, showing that an attorney followed up with counsel for RONRO about retrieving property identified as collateral. The message referenced a previous September 10 communication and indicated that the writer would assume the property was no longer wanted if no further response was received.

The correspondence establishes that an inquiry concerning the property was made, but does not resolve whether the liquidation complied with all applicable rights and obligations under the security agreement and judgment.

Nor has SanDiegoVille independently established whether the removed items were covered by RONRO's security interest, whether any proceeds were generated from their disposition or whether the judgment creditor received notice or payment in connection with particular assets.

For Teves, who was not involved in the original sale or subsequent litigation, those financial disputes are separate from the immediate challenge of rebuilding the establishment.

A longtime San Diego blues musician who fronts Chickenbone Slim & The Biscuits, Teves was named Best Blues Artist at the 2026 San Diego Music Awards. He says owning a nightclub has been a longtime ambition, and he sees Til-Two as an opportunity to create a musician-focused venue that supports the city's independent music scene.

"I have spent many years looking for the opportunity to own a nightclub, and am thankful for the opportunity," Teves told SanDiegoVille.

His professional background may prove especially useful given the condition of the establishment. In addition to his music career, Teves owns and operates Craftsman Foundation Repair, a contracting business specializing in older buildings.

"My past as a contractor specializing in old buildings (I own and operate Craftsman Foundation Repair) will serve me well as we bring The Til Two Club back to the prominence it deserves," he said.

Teves has already begun repairing the venue's infrastructure, improving the bar and music equipment, replacing missing fixtures and addressing maintenance issues. He says significant funds have been budgeted for improvements, with additional renovations planned for next year.

The most ambitious proposal involves expanding into the former card room next door, creating a takeout restaurant space, new accessible bathrooms and utility areas, and replacing the club's existing bathrooms with a more substantial performance stage.

"My intention is to sublet approximately half of the front floor [to] a takeout restaurant, and use the rear portion for ADA bathrooms, and storage, and move the stage to where the current bathrooms are located," Teves explained.

The proposed arrangement would allow a separate restaurant operator to occupy part of the neighboring property while the rear portion would provide additional facilities for the nightclub. The current bathrooms could then be removed to make room for a redesigned stage.

Teves emphasized that the expansion remains contingent on obtaining the necessary plans and permits from the City of San Diego, meaning construction could take considerable time. The project is tentatively planned for 2027.

Despite the changes, Teves insists the establishment will retain its familiar name, vintage identity and rock-and-roll character. He also plans to restore the club's distinctive neon sign, a defining feature of its historic exterior.

"The Til Two Club is and will remain a Rock and Roll Bar," he said.

The entertainment program, however, is expected to become considerably more expansive. Teves plans to introduce Friday-through-Sunday matinee performances alongside the club's nighttime offerings, creating additional opportunities for local musicians to perform.

The lineup will encompass punk, heavy metal, goth, hard rock, indie rock, pop, country, blues, jazz and other styles.

"We want to be inclusive to all people, and we want to focus on original music and support our local music scene," Teves said.

He also plans to launch a weekly Sunday blues jam in the coming weeks, drawing inspiration from his own experiences as a musician and the mentorship he received from the late San Diego blues legend Tomcat Courtney.

"As a blues musician for many years, I feel it's my duty to mentor and support young musicians, just like Tomcat Courtney helped me," Teves said.

The proposed changes represent a significant investment in a venue whose recent history has been dominated by legal disputes and public criticism rather than its musical programming.

Whether the transfer will finally put an end to the years of acrimony remains an open question. Rossler continues to maintain that he has not been paid the money owed under the court judgment. Gomes insists that the outgoing operators made repeated attempts to resolve the dispute and says the proceeds from the liquor-license sale remain subject to the escrow process.

Neither side has provided SanDiegoVille with a complete, reconciled accounting of the outstanding judgment, accumulated attorney fees, creditor claims, collateral proceeds or anticipated distributions from the transaction.

Meanwhile, the public accusations have continued even as the former operators relinquish control of the establishment. For Teves, who inherited neither the original financing agreement nor the personal grievances surrounding it, the prospect of becoming entangled in years of hostility is clearly unwelcome.

"I hope the past ownership controversy will end with the transfer of the license," he said. "Frankly, I am not interested in looking back at a history that I had no part of, and have no power to change."

That sentiment may resonate with local musicians and longtime patrons who remember Til-Two primarily as a place to see a great band in a small room, rather than as the subject of court filings, accusations and public feuds.

The challenge facing Teves is considerable. He is attempting to restore a historic nightclub, replace missing fixtures and equipment, repair aging infrastructure, expand its entertainment offerings and rebuild goodwill while the financial fallout from the previous ownership continues to unfold.

Yet the new operator appears determined to give the venue another chance.

"I have budgeted significant upgrades and improvements to the club, and have been working diligently since taking ownership," Teves said.

For a bar that has survived nearly eight decades of changing names, changing owners, redevelopment threats and shifting musical tastes, another reinvention may be fitting.

The difference this time is that the incoming operator is not just inheriting a historic stage. He is taking over a venue whose reputation has been battered by years of controversy, and whose future will depend on whether the music can finally become louder than the accusations.

Til-Two Club is located at 4746 El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego's City Heights neighborhood. For more information, visit tiltwoclub.com.

Originally published October 14, 2026.