McDonald's (Moscow)

 wifi hotspot, fast food restaurant

Historic first McDonald's in the Soviet Union, opened 1990 by McDonald's Canada

The opening of the first Moscow McDonald's on January 31, 1990 caused some chaos in this neighborhood. At the time it was the world's largest fast food emporium with over 800 seats and twenty-seven cash registers. With 250 employees, it served up to 50,000 people per day. For political reasons, it was McDonald's Canada that was responsible for opening this branch of the international chain. To overcome Soviet supply problems, provide consistency of product and needed quantities, the company established its own chain of resources, including farms. Unlike other foreign investments within the Soviet Union at the time, the restaurant accepted rubles, not dollars. During the early years after its opening, due to its extreme popularity, the wait for service was often several hours.