Starbucks becomes Stars Coffee: Rapper Timati opens the first branch in Moscow

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Timati at the opening of the first Star Coffee branch

Photo:

MAXIM SHIPENKOV / EPA

In the wake of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, many Western corporations have withdrawn from the country, including the world's largest coffee chain, Starbucks.

Similar to McDonald's before, however, the business will continue under a new name.

The new owner of Stars Coffee is rapper Timati.

Together with his business partner, a restaurateur, the musician, who is considered a big fan of Vladimir Putin, opened the first of the 130 cafés on Thursday.

Timati has made no secret of his sympathies for the Russian president in the past and describes himself as a friend of Chechen ruler Ramzan Kadyrov.

In 2015, Timati released the song »My Best Friend Is Vladimir Putin«, in which he describes the Kremlin chief as a »superhero«.

His song "Moscow," in which he praises the city for having "no gay parades," became the most hated clip on the Russian version of YouTube.

Between September 7th and 10th, 2019, 1.48 million thumbs down were given.

After that, Timati took the clip from the network.

The new logo is unimaginative

The musician, whose real name is Timur Ildarovich Yunusov, presented the »new« brand at a well-attended event in the center of Moscow.

The redesign of the café's logo shouldn't have taken too much work.

Instead of the Starbucks siren, it shows a woman wearing the kokoshnik, a traditional Russian headdress.

In addition, there are striking similarities to Starbucks.

Not being allowed to use the Seattle corporation's logo, Timati said they tried to find some continuity.

»Stars Coffee« has also taken over the furnishing of the branches from before.

Starbucks helped make take-away coffee popular among Russia's traditionally tea-loving society.

At the end of May, the US group announced that it was withdrawing from Russia after almost 15 years.

svs/Reuters