Golden Arches Are Gone For Rebranded McDonald's In Russia

Sunday, June 12, 2022, marks a new dawn for Russia's fast-food lovers as former McDonald's Corp. restaurants reopen under new branding and ownership, more than three decades after the arrival of the hugely popular Western fast-food chain, Reuters reported late on June 10.

Photo Insert: The iconic 'Golden Arches' of McDonald's have been removed from locations in Moscow and St. Petersburg to make way for a new logo.

The relaunch will take place on Russia Day, a patriotic holiday commemorating the country's independence, at the same flagship location in Moscow's Pushkin Square that McDonald's first opened in Russia in January 1990.

As the Soviet Union crumbled in the early 1990s, McDonald's came to symbolize a thawing of Cold War tensions and served as a vehicle for millions of Russians to sample American food and culture.

The brand's departure has become a powerful symbol of how Russia and the West are once again turning against each other.

McDonald's announced last month that it was selling its Russian restaurants to one of its local licensees, Alexander Govor. The agreement was one of the most high-profile business exits since Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 24.

McDonald's iconic 'Golden Arches' have been removed from locations in Moscow and St. Petersburg to make way for a new logo that features two fries and a hamburger patty against a green background. The reopening will begin with 15 locations in Moscow and the surrounding area.

The name of the new chain is being kept under wraps. The name of the McDonald's app was changed to 'My Burger' on Friday, causing some online excitement, but the chain's press team stated that this was only a temporary change.

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