CosMc's[a] is an American concept fast food restaurant and spinoff brand by McDonald's.[4] Its menu focuses on hot and cold specialty drinks.[5] It launched on December 7, 2023, with a drive-thru only location in the Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook, Illinois. Nine locations were planned to open in Texas in 2024.[2] CosMc's offers McCafe products, some of which also available at McDonalds locations, alongside exclusive drinks and food.
History
Background
The name CosMc originated as a McDonaldland character, appearing in McDonald's advertisements from 1986 to 1992.[6] It is an extraterrestrial who "craves McDonald's food."[4][7] In the 1990s, McDonald's tried to expand its business by buying Donatos Pizza, Boston Market, and a stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill, but within a decade had sold them off.[8]
In 2023, McDonald's started focusing more on its classic mascots and the Grimace Birthday Meal became a viral Internet phenomenon.[4][8] The specialty coffee-selling business has been growing, which McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski describes as an "attractive and fast growing category". CNN described CosMc's as McDonald's "answer to Starbucks."[9]
Launch
The chain was announced in July 2023.[8] The first CosMc's store opened on December 7, 2023 in the village of Bolingbrook, Illinois.[10] The opening day saw a large queue of customers in the drive-thru which was the only way to order through the restaurant.[10]CNN reported that the Bolingbrook location saw more than twice the number of visits for a typical McDonald's location, citing data from Placer.ai, with the customer base largely skewed to those aged 22-29.[11]
At the time of launch, McDonald's planned to have ten operational stores, including nine in Texas by 2024.[7] McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said that the company would evaluate the ten stores as a "limited test”, adding "Let's not get too excited."[12] In its first month, the store reportedly had twice the traffic of a regular McDonald's.[13]
A new app and rewards program, CosMc’s Club, along with mobile ordering, was introduced in May 2024.[14]
In 2025, the company announced it would close three of its larger format locations and open two smaller locations in Texas.[15]
Operations
CosMc's is intended to sell afternoon snacks and hot and cold drinks, and has been seen as an attempt by McDonald's to enter the United States coffee market[5] and the growing market for drive-thru beverages.[12]
CosMc's outlets will have a smaller footprint than a regular McDonald's.[4] CosMc's will sell food "aimed at people with a very sweet tooth."[7] It will sell a range of products that are not sold at McDonald's, such as 10 new beverages.[16] It will also sell some foods available at McDonald's, such as the Egg McMuffin.[7] The first CosMc's shop has four drive thrus.[17]
Design
CosMc's buildings are colored deep violet and have yellow graphics.[17]
