Twenty-five years ago, Russians finally got to have it their way.
McDonald's set up its iconic golden arches in the then-Soviet Union on Jan. 31, 1990, opening its doors to hundreds of patrons excited for their first taste of Big Macs and Happy Meals. The chain's first Soviet restaurant opened on Moscow's Pushkin Square -- reportedly the world's busiest -- which was recently closed temporarily following state-regulator inspections.
While McDonald's truly had a grand welcoming in 1990, it's a different scene today. The company is opening just 50 restaurants this year -- compared to 73 last year -- due to a fall in the Russian ruble, according to Reuters.
Check out happier times from McDonald's opening day in the Soviet Union, 25 years ago: