The little-known McDonald’s restaurant spin-offs with retro menu items you could only visit in the US
BRITS might not know about this short-lived McDonald’s venture that launched in 2023 as it lasted just two years.
Called CosMc’s, the spin-off was a retro space brand by McDonald’s that focussed on ‘otherworldly beverage creations’.
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In 2023, the very first CosMc’s venue opened selling a few food items and lots of speciality drinks that weren’t available in its original McDonald’s restaurants.
It was space-themed and based on an early alien character who visited McDonaldland in a series of adverts in the late 1980s and early 90s.
The first venue to open was a drive-thru in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
In its first month, the store reportedly had twice the traffic of a regular McDonald’s.
The opening day saw a large queue of customers – with some even being turned away, and police were monitoring the car park.
CosMc’s then opened in four other locations in Texas – Fort Worth, San Antonio and Allen.
The reason it was so popular during its opening was its unique menu.
Apart from a few items from the ‘McDonald’s Universe’ like an Egg McMuffin and McFlurry, all were only available at these restaurants.
Other available food items were the likes of a ‘Creamy Avocado Tomatillo Sandwich’ or a ‘Spicy Queso Sandwich’.
There were also ‘Pretzel Bites’ and ‘McPops’ which are essentially filled donuts – and you could get three for $3.79 (£2.78).
According to McDonald’s, hundreds of thousands of McPops were sold throughout the few years CosMc’s was open.
The spin-off was initially founded to crack the coffee market and mirror the success of other brands like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts.
CosMc’s sold speciality coffees like the ‘Churro Frappe’ and ‘S’mores Cold Brew’ as well as slushies and soft drinks.
The Signature Galactic Boost range were drinks like the ‘Sour Cherry Energy Burst’ and the ‘Blueberry Ginger Boost’.
Across the two years that it was operational, CosMc’s opened at nine locations, all within the US.
Each was aimed at those wanting a quick snack, which is why each was a drive-thru and had no seating areas inside.
Last year it was reported that McDonald’s would be shutting down its CosMc’s chain, with none remaining open as of June 2025.