The operator of Hartford’s first downtown McDonald’s says he closed the doors over the weekend after choosing not to renew the restaurant’s lease in the CityPlace II office tower.
Monday morning patrons to the streetfront restaurant at 151 Asylum St. encountered locked doors and a sign referring them to a McDonald’s on Albany Avenue.
Russ Negre, operations director for the Negre Organization, said in statement today that his restaurant officially closed Saturday after 25 years.
Negre did not elaborate on why he opted not to renew his lease in the 18-story building owned by Northland Development Corp. and in foreclosure. It was unclear whether the Negre Organization operates other restaurants in the area.
“We remain strongly committed to the 20 employees from CityPlace, all of which have been offered transfers to nearby McDonald’s restaurants,” he said.
Connecticut has 175 remaining restaurants, 50 in the greater Hartford area.
