To Russia with Fries

March 29, 1999
Decades before the collapse of the Soviet Union opened the floodgates to waves of Western entrepreneurs, an eager executive was in active negotiations with Brezhnev-era officials to give his corporation a presence in Soviet Russia. George Cohon, the senior chairman of McDonald's Restaurants of Canada, wanted to raise the golden arches in a corner of the world untouched by Big Macs. His account describes how he finally succeeded in opening the world's largest McDonald's--just blocks from Red Square--and selling more apple pies in the first three days of operation than the average Canadian restaurant sells in a year. With Macfarlane's (Come from Away) assistance, Cohon's hardworking, good-humored personality rings clear. Whether reflecting on the transformation of a South Side Chicago kid to multimillionaire ("I'm still the same guy who lived in an apartment with one bath. I just don't have to wait in line any more") or remembering stressful nightmares ("Gorbachev and I were making Big Macs at the SkyDome in Toronto and we couldn't keep up with the orders"), Cohon's narrative is that of a born storyteller. Cohon's delightful account of how determination and a sparkling sense of humor can topple even the stiffest bureaucratic opposition and the surliest service-sector standards will entertain readers. Author tour. (May) FYI: All proceeds from book sales will be donated to Ronald McDonald House Children's Charities.