Muscovites dismayed by Starbucks closing coffee shops after Russia sent troops to Ukraine may now feel a caffeine shock of hope. Hmm. Approximately similar operations are open in the capital.
The name is almost the same: Stars Coffee. The logo could be the twins of a Starbucks mermaid who were separated at birth, with flowing hair, a small enigmatic smile, and a star above her head, but instead of a Starbucks crown, she's a Russian named Kokoshnik.
The menu will look familiar to any Starbucks customer, judging by the company's app, which was introduced the day before the store officially opened on Friday. You can see it.
Starbucks said Thursday it had no comment on the new store.
Russian entrepreneurs take advantage of vacant stores
Seattle-based Starbucks was one of the most visible waves of foreign companies pulling out of Russia or shutting down operations in response to Russian military operations in Ukraine. . Others include McDonald's, IKEA and his H&M.
fast fashion giant. The withdrawal of these companies was a psychological blow for Russians, accustomed to a comfortable Western-style consumer culture. But Russian entrepreneurs suddenly saw an opportunity in an empty store.
Former McDonald's outlets are reopening and attracting quite a few people under the name Vkusno — i Tochka. The name doesn't roll off the tongue easily and is a bit awkward to translate (roughly: It's Tasty — Period), but the menu is a testament to how imitation is sincere flattery.
A popular rapper using the stage name Timati, his artist Yunus Yusupov and restaurateur Anton Pinski partnered to buy Starbucks property and give its operation an English name, thereby We have taken our imitation strategy one step further.
At a press conference on Thursday, they vowed to reopen all their former Starbucks under new identities and even expand their operations. Since then, it has expanded its operations in Russia to about 130 stores. These stores were owned and operated by franchisee Alshaya Group of Kuwait.
An attempt to inspire national pride
Starbucks and McDonald's successors also fit the notion of national pride.
Since Russia has been plagued by sanctions and foreign withdrawals, officials frequently argue that Russia will overcome by relying on its own resources and energy.
"Even though the economic situation is difficult right now, this is a time of opportunity," Oleg Eskindalov, president of the holding company partnered on the Starbucks deal, told the state-run TASS news agency.
"Over the past four months, we have been very aggressive in looking at existing companies following the Starbucks example. I cannot speak."
