McDonald’s Retooling CosMc’s Concept

CosMc’s, a year-old, beverage-led concept from McDonald’s (Chicago), is undergoing an evolution based on initial operating results. The fast-food giant revealed its latest plans for the fledgling chain in a news release.

Based on a 1980s-era McDonaldland character from outer space, the chain’s first locale debuted on Dec. 7, 2023 in Bolingbrook, Ill.

“In just a little over one year, CosMc’s has not only expanded its footprint – with one location in Illinois and six in Texas – but has also increased our overall knowledge of the beverage space allowing us to make thoughtful updates to the menu as the brand and concept has grown,” the release said. “The CosMc’s team has been working hard to scale rapidly, generate new and exciting ideas, and keep learning through feedback from fans.

While the brand received an enthusiastic initial reception from the public, the company said some realities began to emerge, including:

“Since opening CosMc’s, we have had the benefit of testing out different location sizes and setups – from revamping larger restaurant spaces to building smaller prototype locations that focus more on the drive-thru and digital experience. We learned that the smaller-format stores allow us to test new, unique circumstances that are reflective of our customer base. As a result, we will open two new smaller-format stores in Texas in 2025, and close three of the larger locations that were remodeled into CosMc’s locations.