Tag: McDonald’s

Back in 2024, we took you along on a journey across the McDonald’s universe to a place called CosMc’s, a coffee-and-bakery concept inspired by the retro McDonaldland alien of the same name. Since our last post about CosMc’s, a lot has happened to the concept chain and now it seems it’s brief run is over. Join us as we recap CosMc’s and provide an update to this once unique spinoff chain.

The Launch of a Cosmic Concept:

Back in early 2023, McDonald’s began teasing and circulating mysterious space themed advertising for a new concept. As months went on, the mystery and suspense built until they formally announced later that year the idea for a new stand alone chain called CosMc’s.  

The idea was simple but bold: take McDonald’s in a more out-of-this-world direction with vibrant specialty drinks, crave-worthy bakery items, and an energy that felt more like your favorite neighborhood café than a fast-food counter.

Gee.. doesn’t that sound familiar? Speciality drinks? Bakery items? Neighborhood cafes? Sounds like a Starbucks knockoff! To be frank, in a way maybe it was but it was far from anything Starbucks was doing. The whole idea for this chain stemmed from trying to boost mid-day sales in between lunch and dinner. 

Rather than revamping the entire menu which was a proven success, McDonald’s decided to try a new concept where they could test new smaller format stores, new kitchen technology and newer menu items without burdening or disrupting normal business. 

The first location opened in Bolingbrook, Illinois in December 2023, and fans wasted no time lining up. This wasn’t your everyday McDonald’s though. From the colorful “Island Pick Me Up Punch,” sweet-and-spicy “Churro Cold Brew Frappés,” customizable Fruity Popping Boba, and snackable hits like Savory Hashbrown Bites and McPops. It was an equal parts nostalgia trip and menu playground. 

Initially, McDonald’s had big plans which called for about 10 pilot locations by the end of 2024, with a few in Texas. After the first location opened, these plans came about and a total of 5 locations were actually opened.

A Short Orbit: The Shutdown of CosMc’s

So what exactly happened to this unique space and nostalgia fused chain? Well, despite strong customer feedback early on, and finding the smaller drive-thru–only formats performed best, it was not sustainable. As the months passed and the hype settled down, sales started to plateau. Even the cosmic vibes couldn’t fully escape the pull of slowing consumer spending and some tough competition in the beverage space.

By May 2025, McDonald’s made a tough call: all five CosMc’s locations in Illinois and Texas would close by late June. The CosMc’s app and rewards program? Also phased out.

Despite being its own standalone chain, CosMc’s was never meant to replace or compete directly with the Golden Arches. Instead, it was meant to be a “learning lab” for bold flavors, smaller-format stores, and tech-savvy service. This was more meant to be like an experiment to see what works and does not work.  

CosMc’s Lives On: Flavors Enter the Golden Arches

Despite CosMc’s forever disappearing, McDonald’s isn’t tossing those spacey drink recipes into a black hole. Instead, they’re bringing CosMc’s favorites to existing U.S. restaurants as part of a new beverage test program. 

As of August 2025, over 500 McDonald’s locations from Wisconsin to Colorado are pouring CosMc’s-inspired drinks like:

• Creamy Vanilla Cold Brew
• Strawberry Watermelon Refresher
• Sprite Lunar Splash
• Popping Tropic Refresher
• Toasted Vanilla Frappé

It’s a way for McDonald’s to keep experimenting, but on a much bigger stage. If these drinks take off, they could go nationwide. Meaning you might be able to sip a little slice of CosMc’s without ever leaving your local drive-thru.

Final Thoughts

CosMc’s may have had a short orbit, but it certainly left its mark on McDonald’s history. In less than two years, it went from a secretive teaser campaign to fan-favorite beverage stop. While the standalone storefronts have vanished, its most creative flavors now have a shot at living on through the Golden Arches themselves.

If nothing else, CosMc’s proved that McDonald’s isn’t afraid to experiment, play with nostalgia, and take risks outside its comfort zone. Whether you loved it for the colorful drinks, the snackable bites, or simply the novelty of seeing a McDonaldland alien mascot revived from the 80s, it sparked curiosity and that’s a win in itself.

Now, the real question is: will these drinks thrive in the main McDonald’s menu, or will they fade away like a shooting star?

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Did you get to visit a CosMc’s location before they closed? Which drink or snack would you want to see stick around for good? Drop a comment below, share your memories, and if you enjoyed this trip through McDonald’s latest cosmic adventure, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe so you don’t miss our next taste-test or industry deep dive.