Four longtime bartenders and managers are making their first venture as owners with a new restaurant called The Bishop, to be located at 90 N. Pearl St. in downtown Albany, home of The Merry Monk until it closed in August. The partners are Dean Bilpuh Jr., Raymond Hatlee, Scott Pugsley and Evan Shults.

Hatlee tells me the name references the chess piece and that the vibe of their "bourbon and beef bar" will be of a den or library with warm tones and a comfortable ambiance.