MOSCOW (AP)-Three months after McDonald’s After shutting down operations in Russia, hundreds of people thronged its famous former store in Moscow’s Pushkin Square when the restaurant reopened Sunday under a Russian owner and under the new name.
In March, McDonald’s suspended restaurants operated by the company in Russia. Although some franchises remained open, the action of the multinational fast food chain was the most visible response of foreign Russian companies sending troops to Ukraine.
Two months later, McDonald’s decided to completely leave Russia and sold its 850 restaurants to Alexander Govor, who licensed 25 franchises in Siberia.
Govor moved quickly to reopen the closed stores. A few hours before the opening of the restaurant in Pushkin Square, the new name of the Russian chain was announced: Vkusno-i Tochka (Delightful Period).
The logo is different, but it still incorporates golden arches: a circle and two elongated yellows – beef pie and fries – configured in the shape of a stylish M.
The former McDonald’s Fifteen is expected to open on Sunday in Moscow. Network CEO Oleg Paroev said he plans to open 200 by the end of the month.
Under a sale agreement whose financial terms have not yet been announced, the new operation agreed to retain 62,000 employees before McDonald’s leaves.
The people in Pushkin Square, no matter how big and lively, were uncomfortable with the opening of McDonald’s in 1990, when people waited in line for hours. At the time, McDonald’s had a psychological and political resonance beyond burgers.
The opening was the first glimpse of most Muscovites to Western consumerism and service excellence, as well as a sign that the Soviet Union had gradually abandoned its defenses and allowed foreign culture to enter the country.
On Sunday, this earlier symbolism echoed at the reopening of Sunday with a note of nostalgia.
“It’s a historic place – a McDonald’s flagship,” Govor told reporters. “I’m sure this will be the flagship for us”.
Inside, the restaurant looks like its former twin sister. There are touch screens for ordering and counter attendants wearing familiar polo shirts.
“We’re confident that our customers won’t notice the difference between us,” Paroev said. However, he said the company will look for a new soft drink supplier because its supply of Coca-Cola is limited.
Source: Huffpost
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.