Former McDonald's stores in Russia just welcomed their first visitors after a rebrand. See inside the grand opening at the restaurants.

Sarah JacksonJun 17, 2022, 05:07 IST

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

Russia's rebranded McDonald's restaurants opened Sunday to much fanfare.
McDonald's pulled out of the country in May, selling its Russian business to a local licensee who is now reviving it under a new name.

It's been a few months, but Russian McDonald's is back in business.

Well, sort of.

In March, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski announced the company would temporarily shut down its more than 800 restaurants in Russia, following Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

In May, however, the company made the closures permanent, declaring it would exit Russia after 32 years in the country.

McDonald's added that it would sell its Russian business to businessman Alexander Govor, a local licensee who was already running 25 McDonald's restaurants in Siberia. On Sunday, the rebranded chain opened its doors.

Here's a look inside the first renamed store that just opened:

The first store to reopen under the new name welcomed customers back on Sunday.

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

It opened in Moscow, where the first McDonald's in Russia opened in 1990, as seen in the top half of this photo. The bottom half shows the rebranded chain's opening this weekend, a whole 32 years later.

REUTERS/Corbis/Evgenia Novozhenina

It opened in Moscow, where the first McDonald's in Russia opened in 1990, as seen in the top half of this photo. The bottom half shows the rebranded chain's opening this weekend, a whole 32 years later.

12 June 2022, Russia, Moskau: A long line stands outside a branch of the Russian McDonald's successor in Moscow. After McDonald's closed all of its branches in the country in response to Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, branches are reopening under a new, Russian owner. A total of 15 branches in Moscow and the surrounding area are scheduled to welcome guests again this Sunday - under a new name and logo, but at the same locations, with the same staff and almost identical dishes.

Hannah Wagner/picture alliance via Getty Images

12 June 2022, Russia, Moskau: A long line stands outside a branch of the Russian McDonald's successor in Moscow. After McDonald's closed all of its branches in the country in response to Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, branches are reopening under a new, Russian owner. A total of 15 branches in Moscow and the surrounding area are scheduled to welcome guests again this Sunday - under a new name and logo, but at the same locations, with the same staff and almost identical dishes.

There were long lines of people waiting outside to catch a glimpse, and a taste, of the rebranded Russian McDonald's.

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

Here's what the restaurant looks like from the outside.

Hannah Wagner/picture alliance via Getty Images

There's an outdoor seating area on another side of the building.

Hannah Wagner/picture alliance via Getty Images

This sign advertising a sweet treat in the window says, "We are counting the days until June 12."

Hannah Wagner/picture alliance via Getty Images

The chain's new name is Vkusno & tochka.

Hannah Wagner/picture alliance via Getty Images

Reuters translated this to "Tasty and that's it."

Hannah Wagner/picture alliance via Getty Images

The new logo is a stylized burger and fries in the shape of an "M."

The first renamed McDonald's has opened in Moscow.Getty Images

As with many McDonald's and other fast food restaurants, customers can order at kiosks...

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

...or at the register.

Vkusno & tochka aim to open all 850 stores by the end of summer.Reuters

Much of the food looks very similar to McDonald's fare.

The fast-food chain plans to open 15 other stores in Moscow on Sunday.Reuters

Some things, in fact, haven't changed.

Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images

The hurried rebranding means employees are seemingly scribbling out the Golden Arches from McDonald's ketchup packets to reuse for Vkusno & tochka.

Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images

Staff rushed to get food out to scores of hungry customers.

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

What's a (rebranded) McDonald's without the classic burgers...

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

...and fries?

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

After getting their food, customers packed the indoor seating area on opening day.

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

Some Russian McDonald's franchisees refused to close when the company announced its decision to do so, but for many local customers, this is their first bite of "McDonald's" in months.

The rebranded McDonald's opened its first flagship store in Moscow on Sunday.Reuters

Some Russian McDonald's franchisees refused to close when the company announced its decision to do so, but for many local customers, this is their first bite of "McDonald's" in months.

Employees handed out freebies to celebrate the reopening.

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

Customers walked away with balloons bearing images of fries and ice cream.

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

Others got stickers of burgers.

Hannah Wagner/picture alliance via Getty Images

This employee held burger glasses to her face to entertain customers as they waited in line.

Hannah Wagner/picture alliance via Getty Images

Another walked around with a foam finger.

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

Vkusno & tochka was set to open 15 other rebranded stores in Moscow on Sunday.

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

New owner Govor says his company will invest 7 billion rubles, or $125 million, into the business this year.

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

He has vowed to retain all of the staff from the 850 Russian McDonald's restaurants as part of his deal.

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

Vkusno & tochka plans to reopen another 200 stores by the end of June...

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

...and all 850 stores by the end of the summer.

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

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Former McDonald's stores in Russia just welcomed their first visitors after a rebrand. See inside the grand opening at the restaurants.

The first store to reopen under the new name welcomed customers back on Sunday.

It opened in Moscow, where the first McDonald's in Russia opened in 1990, as seen in the top half of this photo. The bottom half shows the rebranded chain's opening this weekend, a whole 32 years later.

There were long lines of people waiting outside to catch a glimpse, and a taste, of the rebranded Russian McDonald's.

Here's what the restaurant looks like from the outside.

There's an outdoor seating area on another side of the building.

This sign advertising a sweet treat in the window says, "We are counting the days until June 12."

The chain's new name is Vkusno & tochka.

Reuters translated this to "Tasty and that's it."

The new logo is a stylized burger and fries in the shape of an "M."

As with many McDonald's and other fast food restaurants, customers can order at kiosks...

...or at the register.

Much of the food looks very similar to McDonald's fare.

Some things, in fact, haven't changed.

The hurried rebranding means employees are seemingly scribbling out the Golden Arches from McDonald's ketchup packets to reuse for Vkusno & tochka.

Staff rushed to get food out to scores of hungry customers.

What's a (rebranded) McDonald's without the classic burgers...

...and fries?

After getting their food, customers packed the indoor seating area on opening day.

Some Russian McDonald's franchisees refused to close when the company announced its decision to do so, but for many local customers, this is their first bite of "McDonald's" in months.

Employees handed out freebies to celebrate the reopening.

Customers walked away with balloons bearing images of fries and ice cream.

Others got stickers of burgers.

This employee held burger glasses to her face to entertain customers as they waited in line.

Another walked around with a foam finger.

Vkusno & tochka was set to open 15 other rebranded stores in Moscow on Sunday.

New owner Govor says his company will invest 7 billion rubles, or $125 million, into the business this year.

He has vowed to retain all of the staff from the 850 Russian McDonald's restaurants as part of his deal.

Vkusno & tochka plans to reopen another 200 stores by the end of June...

...and all 850 stores by the end of the summer.