McDonald's is closing three CosMc's areas – and opening two extra

A sign hangs outside a CosMc's restaurant, a concept that McDonald's recently introduced on December 11, 2023 in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

Scott Olson | Getty Images

McDonald's will close three locations of its beverage spin-off brand CosMc's.

To test the concept, the fast-food giant opened its first CosMc's location in the Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook more than a year ago, followed by six more in Texas. McDonald's has converted larger namesake restaurants into CosMc's and also built smaller prototype locations.

The company announced on Thursday that the smaller stores were better suited for the test. As a result, McDonald's will close three of its larger CosMc's locations and open two additional small restaurants in Texas. The company did not announce the locations of the openings or closings, although CosMc's website says it will soon be opening a store in Allen, Texas.

McDonald's also shared other early findings from the pilot on Thursday. Savory hash browns are the top-selling food item at any time of day, followed by McPops, the chain's filled mini donuts. Top-selling drinks include the Island Pick-Me-Up Punch, Churro Cold Brew Frappe and Sour Energy Burst.

The CosMc test will continue “for the foreseeable future,” according to the company.

McDonald's created CosMc's as an entry point into the growing “afternoon drink pick-me-up” event.

While CosMc's menu includes some McDonald's classics, it also offers a variety of new items that tap into other drink and snack trends, such as iced turmeric-spiced lattes, tropical spiceade and pretzel bites. Starbucks, Dutch Bros. and bubble tea chain Kung Fu Tea are finding success with younger consumers by offering customizable cold drinks.

The new brand's name comes from CosMc, a McDonaldland mascot that appeared in advertising in the late 1980s and early 1990s. CosMc is an alien from outer space who craves McDonald's food.

While it's unclear how much McDonald's plans to expand CosMc's, it's still a tiny portion of the burger giant's overall U.S. footprint. The company has more than 13,500 U.S. restaurants. Still, McDonald's hopes to learn more about CosMc's customers. A special loyalty program for CosMc's was introduced last year.

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