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.