# You Don't Deserve a Break Today -- McDonald's closes its stores in Russia **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 8, 2022, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696 "2022-03-08T19:25:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/1 "2022-03-08T19:25:31Z")
[https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/08/business/mcdonalds-pepsi-coke-russia/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/08/business/mcdonalds-pepsi-coke-russia/index.html) > [@](#): > > New York (CNN Business)McDonald’s is temporarily closing its locations in Russia. > > “McDonald’s has decided to temporarily close all our restaurants in Russia and pause all operations in the market,” CEO Chris Kempczinski said in a statement Tuesday. > > There were 847 locations of McDonald’s in Russia at the close of last year, according to an investor document. > > Globally, most McDonald’s ([MCD](https://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=MCD&source=story_quote_link)) locations are operated by franchise operators. But that’s not the case in Russia, where 84% of locations are operated by the company, according to the document. Russia’s restaurants, along with another 108 in Ukraine, all operated by McDonald’s, accounted for 9% of the company’s revenue in 2021, according to the document. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/2 "2022-03-08T19:28:32Z")
Nice! I will eat a Big Mac to honor this move. But Coke has refused to do a similar move. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/3 "2022-03-08T19:53:15Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Nice! > > I will eat a Big Mac to honor this move. > > **But Coke has refused to do a similar move.** - Bad move. 🎶 I’d like to teach the world to fight Russian tyranny 🎶 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/4 "2022-03-08T19:56:02Z")
So. McDonald’s actually established a No Fry Zone. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/5 "2022-03-08T19:59:49Z")
🤦 ~Max ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/6 "2022-03-08T20:01:29Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > So. McDonald’s actually established a No Fry Zone. 👍 . ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/7 "2022-03-08T21:54:31Z")
You’re just jealous, Max. Anyway, I’ve been seeing it since my post, but I _did_ come up with it all by my lonesome. As did 5k other jokesters, but what can you do? Sometimes, obvious pun is obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/8 "2022-03-08T22:05:50Z")
But is improving Russian diets not helping the enemy? Should they not rather give all the hamberders and freedom fries away until the Russians are all adipose and unable to fight? Give them vodka too, they know how to handle that. Improves aim, I am told, and raises morale. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/9 "2022-03-08T22:08:11Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But Coke has refused to do a similar move. This NPR article (from just a few minutes ago) indicates that Coke (as well as Pepsi and Starbucks) has also suspended business operations in Russia. > **[McDonald's, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Starbucks join a corporate exodus from Russia](https://www.npr.org/2022/03/08/1085179372/mcdonalds-russia-companies-ukraine)** > > The big American companies are the latest to suspend their operations in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/10 "2022-03-08T23:05:27Z")
These are all devastating corporate blows to the Russian imperialist regime, but not as cruel as my local pet store selling a chewable Vladimir Putin dog toy. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/11 "2022-03-08T23:07:55Z")
I like this news, and will stop at McDonalds tomorrow morning. I only wish they had the guts to call it permanent and bye-bye. Temporary… ahh. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/12 "2022-03-08T23:08:13Z")
The restaurant buildings are still there. What’s to stop Russians from making their own fastfood and market the franchise into ‘McPutins’? Yummy🤭 I’m sorry you can’t fake Coca-cola. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/13 "2022-03-08T23:18:36Z")
I just heard on NPR’s _Marketplace_ that Starbucks has followed suit. On a different note, remember what big a deal it was when the first McDonald’s opened in Moscow? > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > What’s to stop Russians from making their own fastfood and market the franchise into ‘McPutins’? Like Iran’s “Pizza Hat” and “Mash Donald’s” chains? > **[How Bootleg Fast Food Conquered Iran](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/fast-food-in-iran)** > > Mash Donalds, Sheak Shack, and Pizza Hat are very popular. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2022, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/14 "2022-03-08T23:19:45Z")
Missed opportunity for Sheikh Shack. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2022, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/15 "2022-03-09T17:45:23Z")
Coca Cola had little choice. The secret syrup is all made in Atlanta. Lot’s of luck shipping it to Moscow and getting paid for it. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/16 "2022-03-10T01:54:26Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I like this news, and will stop at McDonalds tomorrow morning. I only wish they had the guts to call it permanent and bye-bye. Temporary… ahh. Gotta keep some leverage. If stopping the war doesn’t get rid of the sanctions, then there’s no reason to stop. So if Putin will be a good boy, maybe he can get some McDonalds. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/17 "2022-03-10T19:25:47Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > The restaurant buildings are still there. > What’s to stop Russians from making their own fastfood and market the franchise into ‘McPutins’? McPutin’s Beet burgers and borscht fries, with pureed beet shake. Decreed by, err, recommended by Ivan Grobny. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/18 "2022-03-10T19:34:40Z")
Gulag meal: Fish heads and freshly mowed grass, with dirt garnish. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/19 "2022-03-10T19:39:05Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > On a different note, remember what big a deal it was when the first McDonald’s opened in Moscow? Yes, I do! First clean public toilet in Russia ever. But the West is helping Russia in more ways that just improving theit diet: Pwc, Deloitte, PKMG and EY are leaving Russia too. If McKinsey leaves too, they win the war. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-deserve-a-break-today-mcdonalds-closes-its-stores-in-russia/960696/20 "2022-03-10T19:40:52Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > So if Putin will be a good boy, maybe he can get some McDonalds. He knows where to get as many as he wants. In just two weeks: [![](https://uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/trump-mcdonalds.jpg?w=1024) ](https://uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/trump-mcdonalds.jpg?w=1024)