Pawtucket Mayor Rebukes Hasbro CEO Over Remarks on City Dining

Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien criticized Hasbro chief executive Chris Cocks after Cocks linked the toy company's headquarters move to Boston partly to a shortage of restaurants and after-work gathering spots near its Rhode Island campus, WJAR reported on October 27.

Speaking to Boston public radio outlet WBUR, Cocks said the city had been Hasbro's base for a century but offered employees few options to socialize once the workday ended, and that delivery orders often arrived cold. He gave little detail about what will happen to the roughly 600 workers based at the Pawtucket site, according to WJAR.

Grebien said in a statement that the comments were "insulting to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and the Hasbro employees who helped build this company," and said the company was putting profits ahead of people. He urged Hasbro executives to meet publicly with state officials, recognize the region's role in the company's growth and set out a plan for continued investment in Rhode Island.

Hasbro disclosed its plan in 2025 to shift its headquarters and operations to Boston's Seaport district by the end of 2026. Gov. Dan McKee and Grebien have both said Cocks never contacted them directly about the decision. Residents interviewed by WJAR defended the city's restaurants, describing family-owned spots they said visitors overlook.

This story was first reported by WJAR.