As the Gospel Bird build-out nears completion, the restaurant now is a Morris solo gig with Ethan Ray as acting executive chef.

Today on my way to coffee, I happened upon Steve Resch, and eventually wandered over to 207 - 209 Main Street to check on his build-out of the forthcoming Gospel Bird restaurant.

We welcome Staggers, Morris and the Gospel Bird with open arms and our senseless one-way streets.

Liftoff is scheduled for mid-January, with the rear outdoor patio to follow at some point before Derby. Later in the day, Eric Morris adjusted the restaurant's operational narrative, saying he wanted "New Albany to know first."

I just wanted to let you know that Dustin Staggers is no longer a part of this project and that I will be doing this on my own. Ethan Ray will be the acting executive chef. 

Thanks, Eric. New Albany is appreciative. As Kevin Gibson recently noted, Ethan Ray is a Louisville culinary legend, so I'm thinking the kitchen's in great hands. Noting that the former Parthenon next door is not slated to be connected to the Gospel Bird, here are two photos of work in progress. The west side will be the dining room ...

 ... and the east side the kitchen and bar.

Steve observed that they're at the stage of construction when things begin happening quickly, so stay tuned.

Parting glass: We recently took a look at previous occupants of the Bader Building's commercial space.

The Gospel Bird is coming, so let's remember what preceded it in the Bader Building and Parthenon.

We welcome Staggers, Morris and the Gospel Bird with open arms and our senseless one-way streets.

Others among us recall it as Connor's Place.

Do you remember the businesses previously located in this spot?

I've known about this project for a while, but was pledged to silence and kept the vow. Someone owes me, but make no mistake: The Gospel Bird is big news for downtown New Albany's dining scene.

The new and expanded Bread and Breakfast will be only a few steps away at Underground Station, as will Ian Hall's Brooklyn and The Butcher at the corner of Bank and Market. Another new watering hole about to open is the Red Dragon Pub, located on Main Street in the approximate space formerly occupied by Cafe 27.

The story is folded into IL's Monday morning business tout, so click the link and scroll down. Just imagine the multiplier effect of these business start-ups with a functional street grid.

Louisville chefs head to New Albany to open their next restaurant, by Caitlin Bowling (Insider Louisville)

Chefs Eric Morris and Dustin Staggers are heading across the river for their next concept.

It’s been a whole two months since the Staggers crew opened its second Epic Sammich Co. store, so it was about time for them to announce a new venture.

Here it is: Tentatively called Gospel Bird, the restaurant will be the love child of Morris’ Loop 22 and Staggers’ time at The Monkey Wrench. Gospel Bird is a term for fried chicken that is eaten on Sundays, the traditional church-going day.

The menu will feature dishes including butter beans, rotisserie chicken, cauliflower grits, chicken-fried rabbit and Brussel sprouts. It will cover the South, from the Appalachian Mountains to the low country to New Orleans and hints of Florida — and include some ingredients from New Albany’s farmers market.

“We are just trying to make country food,” said Staggers, noting that all the fried items on the menu will be fried in a cast iron skillet.