Business

Watertown Life Science Company to be Acquired by Eli Lilly

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Orna Therapeutics Logo

Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly will be acquiring a company in the East End of Watertown Arsenal, the two companies announced on Feb. 9. Orna Therapeutics is based at 500 Forge, a building near Home Depot that used to house Miller’s Ale House and offices into lab space. The following announcement was released Monday:

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and Orna Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company dedicated to engineering immune cells in vivo, today announced entry into a definitive agreement for Lilly to acquire Orna. Orna is advancing a new class of therapeutics utilizing engineered circular RNA paired with novel lipid nanoparticles to allow the patient’s own body to generate cell therapies that can treat underlying disease.

Business

Mainstay Eatery in Watertown Square Closing After 27 Years

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Longtime dining destination, Not Your Average Joe’s, will be closing after more than a quarter century in Watertown Square. The last day for the Watertown location is Feb. 11, 2026, according to Sara Murtagh, Regional Director of Operations for Not Your Average Joe’s. “This is very sad for us as this is our oldest NYAJoe’s,” Murtagh said. “We have loved being a part of this community and have a lot of amazing memories.”

Development

Retiring Planning Director Looks Back on His 17 Years in Watertown

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Steve Magoon

Steve Magoon has seen the transformation of large sections of Watertown, and played a major role in the creation of some of the City’s most important planning documents during his time working for the City. Magoon will retire at the end of January after more than 17 years as director of the Department of Community Development and Planning. Magoon arrived in Watertown after working for four years in Gloucester, his first job in Massachusetts. His career began in his home state of Maryland, where he rose up to become the planning director in Charles County. He still remembers his first impression of Watertown.

Around Town

Watertown Home Depot Temporarily Closed Due to Snow Accumulation on Roof

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Following the heavy snowfall last weekend, the Home Depot in Watertown has been closed due to the snow on the roof of the store on Arsenal Street. A crew from WBZ Channel 4 on Wednesday found the parking lot closed, a handmade sign saying “Store Closed,” and some confused shoppers. The station reached out to Home Depot and got a message saying that the store was closed “out of an abundance of caution” due to “significant snow accumulation on the roof.” The store is working with City officials to make sure the store is safe for shoppers and employees. A screenshot from WBZ Channel 4.