Hasbro May Relocate Headquarters to Boston
Hasbro might be relocating its headquarters from Pawtucket, Rhode Island to Boston in the near future.
According to the Boston Business Journal, their real estate sources state that the toy maker toured various buildings in downtown Boston recently and is reportedly looking for up to 250,000 square feet of office space. There’s also potential for the new Hasbro headquarters to move to the Boston suburbs.
Bertie Thomson, Hasbro’s chief communications officer, said in a statement to WBZ-TV, “As Hasbro continues to evolve, we’re exploring options for our global headquarters to make sure it is a space that can best serve our employees, partners, and business needs for years to come. We’re taking our time, evaluating all options that can best support our team’s creativity and innovation, and will share updates on our progress. Regardless of the outcome and location, we remain committed to our history – not leaving it behind, but building on it.”
WBZ-TV notes that this news follows Hasbro laying off about 1,100 employees (about 20% of its workforce) in December 2023 due to lower-than-expected sales. Hasbro, of course, is the parent company of many iconic toy brands including Potato Head, Nerf, Play-Doh, My Little Pony and more. They were founded in Pawtucket in 1923.
If Hasbro decides to move its headquarters to Boston, it wouldn’t be the only toy company in the city. Lego announced last year that its American headquarters would be moving to Boston in 2025. Previously located in Connecticut, the new Lego American headquarters is located at 1001 Boylston Street in a new 100,000-square-foot building with five floors.
President of The Lego Group in the Americas Skip Kodak told WBZ-TV, “Actually, the simple reasons for Boston, for us to move to Boston from where we are right now in Connecticut are to be in a space where we have the opportunity to continue to grow our workforce and compete effectively for high-caliber talent. We are going to be looking for community partners who value the benefits of bringing learning through play to kids of all ages, and we have a specific focus on serving communities where that access isn’t always available.”
Boston is home to many headquarters of a variety of popular brands, companies and other organizations. Gillette has a long history with the city. Both Reebok and Converse have their global/world headquarters in Boston. Other companies include DraftKings, Au Bon Pain, Wayfair, Iron Mountain and Fidelity Investments.
