Stars Coffee, Starbucks’ successor in Russia, opens with a familiar look.

Starbucks has left Russia. But its successor, Stars Coffee, isn’t straying far from its inspiration.

Unveiled by a popular Russian rapper, its first shop welcomed guests in a former Starbucks in central Moscow on Friday. The logo looks like a Russian twin to the Starbucks mermaid, now wearing a traditional headpiece known as a kokoshnik. The menu has familiar items, mixed with Russian-made syrups.

And many of the 2,000 former workers at Starbucks stores in Russia transferred to work in the new chain, which will be managed by the former deputy president of Starbucks in Russia and Kazakhstan, according to Stars Coffee’s website. Read more

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