Weeks after landing in foreclosure, CityPlace II lost one of its oldest tenants — McDonald’s.
The operator of the street-front restaurant at 151 Aslyum St. opted not to renew its lease after 25 years in space adjacent to the street-front atrium linking CityPlace II and its 36-story companion, CityPlace.
Franchisee Negre Organization did not specify a reason for not renewing its lease. But Negre said the fast-food restaurant’s 20 employees were offered transfers to nearby McDonald’s outlets.
Negre said the McDonald’s in CityPlace II was downtown’s first. (GREGORY SEAY)
Genomas Expanding
Though investors have been slow to latch on, Hartford bioscience entrepreneur Gualberto Ruano, M.D., sees further expansion ahead for his enterprise in 2010.
Genomas Inc. markets a genetics-based testing module aimed at personalizing patient treatment for such ailments as mental illness and diabetes. (‘’Genetic Roadmap Targets Drug Therapies,’’ Hartford Business Journal, Nov. 30, 2009)
The private company ended 2009 with 300 new patient referrals for its PhyzioType test, said Ruano, the founder, CEO and chief researcher. Genomas performed an estimated 800 tests in 2009.
With expansion looming into Massachusetts, Ruano now projects revenue to triple this year to $1 million this year.
The company also launched its Web-based portal that allows physicians to interpret their patients’ PhyzioType test results online, as well as to electronically archive their clinical findings — the key, to enhancing the product’s viability and reliability.
Meanwhile, he seeks investors to finance Genomas’ efforts to widen research and deepen its market penetration.
“It’s worse than slow-going,’’ he said. “There is no water in that well.’’ (GREGORY SEAY)
