Update: Michael Smith, a spokesman at the New York State Liquor Authority, told me today that the owners of Shanghai Grill, at 175 S. Broadway, applied to transfer their liquor license to 63 Putnam St., the former Doc's Steakhouse. The application was filed March 12, and a hearing on Monday will determine if it is approved, Smith said.

Earlier this week, a peek through the locked, paper-covered doors at 63 Putnam revealed red wooden partitions and wall shelves that have been recently constructed. I could hear the buzzing of a chain saw and through my tiny viewing panel, it looked like a lot of renovation was happening.

Doc's owner Laura LaPoint declared bankruptcy last year and closed the restaurant's doors just as the summer was winding down.

Shanghai Grill hasn't been open long in the South Broadway location, but owner Jeff Chen has built a loyal clientele at the original Latham restaurant, serving Chinese, Japanese and Thai cuisine.

Moving the Shanghai Grill downtown would leave another building empty on South Broadway. Local business owners there expressed concerns last year about bouncing back after a major road repair project in the spring and summer of 2008 detoured traffic away from their storefronts.