Two restaurant partnerships have joined to take over Monkton's Manor Tavern. The principals involved include Baltimore businessman Jim Franzoni, An Poitin Stil's William and John Mitcherling, and the team of  Patrick Russell and Bill Irvin, who operate Kooper's Tavern, Slainte, Woody's Rum Bar, Celie's Waterfront Inn, and the Chowhound Burger Wagon. The settlement was on Saturday.

Russell and Irvin will be the historic restaurant's day-to-day operators.

"We're tickled to death, Irvin said. He said that he and Russell had been pursuing the landmark restaurant for the past year and a half. The Mitcherlings were pursuing it, too. We decided, "Why don't we we just do this as a team?"

The new partnership will give the Manor Tavern ownership more buying power, Irvin said. "A restaurant business works on tiny, tiny margins. Every penny you can save makes a huge difference."

Full completion of the Manor Tavern’s renovations  is scheduled for the end of 2011, but the Manor tavern will remain open full time during renovations, opening daily for lunch and dinner.