McDonald’s said it plans to close half of its CosMc’s beverage shops in Texas — just one year after opening.
The world’s largest fast-food chain has been testing the cafes in small and large formats, with six locations in Texas and its flagship store in Bolingbrook, Ill.
The company said it will open two smaller-format CosMc’s in Texas.
“Sometimes the smallest stars shine the brightest,” McDonald’s said in a statement. “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.”
The beverage shop is a nod to the nostalgic McDonald’s character CosMc, a six-handed alien who wanted to take burgers back to his home world. Now, the spin-off chain is hoping to grab a share of the growing demand for non-alcoholic drinks, energy drinks and specialty lattes.
Its menu is reminiscent of Swig, a Utah-based chain of drive-thru soda shops that has taken over TikTok, with lots of drink options and small bites.
CosMc’s best-sellers include a Churro Cold Brew Frappe, Sour Energy Burst and Island Pick Me Up Punch.
The chain’s most popular snacks include Savory Hashbrown Bites and McPops — bite-sized beignets in a variety of flavors.
The flagship CosMc’s opened in Illinois in December 2023. Customers lined up for hours and flew in from as far away as the UK and France to try the new menu, according to McDonald’s.
The Illinois CosMc’s location saw twice as much store traffic that December as a typical McDonald’s location, according to Placer.ai.
