CosMc's is an American
fast food
Fast food is a type of mass-produced food designed for commercial resale, with a strong priority placed on speed of service. It is a commercial term, limited to food sold in a restaurant or store with frozen, preheated or precooked ingredien ...
restaurant and a spin-off of
McDonald's.
It launched on December 7, 2023, with a
drive-thru-only location in
Bolingbrook, Illinois. By 2024, nine additional locations had opened in
Texas. The CosMc's brand features
McCafe products and new beverages exclusive to CosMc's.
History
CosMc's was developed as part of McDonald's strategy to explore new dining concepts and reinvigorate its brand. This initiative came after McDonald's earlier attempts in the 1990s to diversify its offerings through acquisitions of
Donatos Pizza,
Boston Market, and
Chipotle Mexican Grill, which were eventually sold.
Background
The name "CosMc" originated from a
McDonaldland character—an extraterrestrial being who "craves McDonald's food." The character appeared in McDonald's
advertising from 1986 to 1992. Leveraging the character's nostalgic appeal, McDonald's focused on its classic mascots, including the
Grimace Birthday Meal, which went
viral
Viral means "relating to viruses" (small infectious agents).
Viral may also refer to:
Viral behavior, or virality
Memetic behavior likened that of a virus, for example:
* Viral marketing, the use of existing social networks to spread a marke ...
in 2023.
Launch
The chain was announced in July 2023, with the first location opening in Bolingbrook, Illinois, in December 2023.
The grand opening drew significant attention, with long lines forming in the drive-thru—the only way to place orders at the time. ''
CNN'' reported that this location had more than double the traffic of a typical McDonald's, particularly among the 22-29 age group.
By early 2024, more CosMc’s locations were launched in the
Dallas-Fort Worth area. The
Arlington location opened during a
solar eclipse
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby obscuring the view of the Sun from a small part of the Earth, totally or partially. Such an alignment occurs during an eclipse season, approximately every six month ...
, which the restaurant celebrated with a special event. McDonald's stated it would monitor these locations throughout 2024 before deciding on further expansion.
Operations
CosMc's is positioned as a "beverage-forward" establishment designed to meet the growing demand for quick-service beverages and snacks, especially in the afternoon. The menu features a variety of cold beverages like
frappés,
slushes, and specialty
iced coffees, along with snacks such as
pretzel
A pretzel (), from German pronunciation, standard german: Breze(l) ( and French / Alsatian: ''Bretzel'') is a type of baked bread made from dough that is commonly shaped into a knot. The traditional pretzel shape is a distinctive symmetrical ...
bites and
mini donuts. Unlike McDonald's, CosMc’s does not offer full meal options like
burgers or
fries, setting it apart from its parent brand.
CosMc’s outlets are smaller than typical McDonald's restaurants, focusing on convenience with multiple drive-thru lanes and walk-up windows for easy pick-up. The chain is also testing new technologies, such as advanced traffic management systems in drive-thru lanes and dedicated pickup areas for
delivery drivers, to streamline operations and reduce congestion.
Design
CosMc’s outlets are designed with a distinctive deep violet color scheme accented by yellow graphics, creating a
retro-futuristic
Retrofuturism (adjective ''retrofuturistic'' or ''retrofuture'') is a movement in the creative arts showing the influence of depictions of the future produced in an earlier era. If futurism is sometimes called a "science" bent on anticipatin ...
feel. The brand's visual identity draws on nostalgia for McDonald's 1980s branding, with a modern twist aimed at attracting younger consumers.
The interior design of CosMc's locations continues this theme with sleek, minimalist furniture, digital ordering kiosks, and ambient lighting that emphasizes the brand's modern yet nostalgic vibe. Décor often includes subtle nods to the original McDonaldland character, CosMc, such as alien-themed artwork and space-inspired motifs, further connecting the brand to McDonald's heritage.
Notes
References
{{McDonald's
McDonald's subsidiaries
Restaurants established in 2023
Fast-food franchises
2023 establishments in Illinois
2023 establishments in the United States
Coffeehouses and cafés in the United States