Business

Watertown Native Names New Whiskey After His Hometown & Got a Little Help from His Friends

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Drink creator Mikey Bortone named his coconut whiskey after his hometown. (Courtesy of Watertown Whiskey)

Watertown native Mikey Bortone’s eureka moment came when he was enjoying a whiskey, while trying to hydrate at the same time. After perfecting his recipe, and with some help from a couple hometown buddies, Watertown Whiskey has become a reality. The liquor named for his hometown brings together rye whiskey and coconut. It debuted in California, where Bortone now lives, and he plans to bring it to his home state.

Business

Local Favorites Old & New Featured in Charles River Chamber’s “Get to Know Watertown Video”

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Courtesy of Charles River Regional Chamber

The following information was provided by the Charles River Chamber of Commerce:

On Friday, the Charles River Regional Chamber is releasing the first of four videos to promote Watertown, Wellesley, Newton and Needham to visitors. “Get to Know Watertown” features a mix of iconic establishments, cultural attractions and new destinations throughout the city, including Donohue’s Bar & Grill, Sevan Bakery, the Mosesian Center for the Arts and Bar ‘Cino.  

The “Get to Know” videos are the second phase of the chamber’s “Take A Trip Up the Charles” campaign launched in 2022 designed to encourage visitors to Greater Boston and people who live in neighboring communities to explore the many offerings in these vibrant communities located just a few miles upstream along the Charles. “Our goal is to support our local economy by highlighting scenic, historic, cultural, recreational, lodging, dining and retail destinations that make our communities unique to those visiting the region, or from the next community over,” said Chamber President Greg Reibman. 

“We had a lot of fun working with so many business owners across Watertown to make this video,” Reibman added.  “We also wanted to thank the folks at City Hall who helped provide many of the events and public art photos that are such an important part in telling why everyone should get to know Watertown.”

Reibman said he hopes everyone who enjoys the video will share it with customers, e-newsletters and on their social media feeds.  

The $16,500 campaign is funded by Meet Boston! and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.

Business

Restaurant Opening in Former New Yorker Diner Spot

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The former New Yorker Diner spot will be home to Halva. (Courtesy of Teddy Kokoros)

A restaurant that will serve a variety of dishes, including Turkish food, appears to be headed to the former New Yorker Diner location near Watertown Square. A Watertown News reader sent a photo of the building at 39 Mt Auburn St. has banners hanging on it saying “Halva, Coming Soon!” The banners also mentions barbecue, burgers, and kunefe — a Turkish pastry made with cheese.

Business

New Italian Restaurant Opens in Center of Watertown

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Bar ‘Cino has opened in Watertown Square. (Photo courtesy of Bar ‘Cino)

The following piece was provided by the Newport Restaurant Group:

Newport Restaurant Group, the Rhode-Island based and 100 percent employee-owned hospitality group that operates a collection of restaurants and properties across New England, today opens Bar ‘Cino in Watertown. Derived from vicino, the Italian word for “neighbor”, the new Bar ‘Cino is nestled in the heart of Watertown Square and is the third location of the Italian-inspired dining concept which first opened in Newport, Rhode Island in 2019 followed by Brookline 2020. “We are thrilled that our latest Bar ‘Cino opening will be in the vibrant and historic city of Watertown,” said Paul O’Reilly, CEO of Newport Restaurant Group. “Over the past several years, we’ve enjoyed bringing our passion for delicious Italian food and drink to our guests in Newport and Brookline and are excited to foster that same spirit right on Watertown’s Main Street.

Business

Watertown Business Coalition Holding Joint Event With Charles River Chamber

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Two groups supporting Watertown businesses and organizations will be getting together for a networking event in July. The Watertown Business Coalition and the Charles River Regional Chamber will hold a coffee connect on Wednesday, July 19 starting at 8:30 p.m. The event will be held at Arsenal Yards the green space between Buttermilk & Bourbon and Shake Shack. The event is free for members of either group, and also for non-members. Coffee and goodies will be available. Click here to Register.

Business

New York-Based Cookie Store Opening Location in Watertown

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Watertown’s Arsenal Yards already boasts a bevy of restaurants and eateries, and will add something to satisfy people’s sweet tooth. Chip City Cookies will add Watertown to its list of stores, which currently includes 18 locations in New York City, Long Island, and New Jersey, according to an announcement on RestaurantNews.com. Childhood friends Peter Phillips and Theodore Gailas started Chip City Cookies in 2017 after the pair challenged each other to see which one could make the best cookie. The first store opened in Astoria, Queens. “We are thrilled to open our doors in Watertown,” Phillips said in the announcement.

Business

Watertown Life Sciences Company Gets $20 Million in Investments

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The following information was provided by Lyndra Therapeutics:

Lyndra Therapeutics Inc. of Watertown raised $20.3 million from seven investors as part of an offering of equity and option securities, according to a Form D dated June 7. Total amount of the offering is just over $179 million. Last month Lyndra announced it has dosed the first participant in its pivotal clinical trial investigating oral weekly risperidone (LYN-005) for the treatment of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. This is Lyndra’s lead drug candidate.  

The investigational oral weekly risperidone is a unique “long-acting oral therapy” powered by Lyndra’s LYNXTM drug delivery platform, which delivers a week’s worth of medication in one oral capsule.

Business

Seven Watertown Companies Receive Tax Incentives from State to Create Jobs

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Seven companies from Watertown received part of the $24.4 million being awarded by the state to create new jobs in the life sciences industry. The Healey-Driscoll Administration and Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) announced the MLSC Tax Incentive Program program last week. It will provide incentives for 43 life sciences companies, which are expected to create 1,584 jobs, according to the program’s announcement. The Watertown companies will received between $150,000 and $750,000 in tax incentives and will create a combined 140 jobs. The Watertown companies receiving the incentives are:

AffiniT Thereapeutics, $375,000, 25 jobs

Corner Therapeutics Inc., $150,000, 10 jobs

Disc Medicine Inc., $150,000, 10 jobs

Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc., $150,000, 10 jobs

Lyra Therapeutics Inc. $300,000, 20 jobs

Tome Biosciences Inc., $750,000, 50 jobs

Treeline Biosciences Inc., $225,000, 15 jobs.