McDonald’s’ hyped-up new spinoff restaurant officially opened to the public Friday, with celebrations planned for the weekend as customers try out the new, vintage-inspired concept in suburban Chicago.
CosMc’s, a mysterious new spinoff restaurant from the world’s largest hamburger chain that has caused a stir on social media and in the Chicago area, opened quietly Thursday in Bolingbrook to a few customers as the chain said it would officially launch Friday. Helicopter footage from NBC’s Sky 5 showed a line of cars lined up to several drive-thru windows on Thursday.
The restaurant resumed serving its new menu items at 6 a.m. Friday and will remain open until 8 p.m
According to a spokesperson, CosMc is McDonald’s new “small-format, beverage-led” concept restaurant that is part of a “limited trial.”
“Inspired by nostalgia and driven by a menu of bold, refreshing drinks and delicious treats, CosMC descends on earth for us humans to enjoy,” the company said in a release.
Here’s what we know about the restaurant so far.
CosMc’s food menu
“CosMc’s seamlessly blends brand new, otherworldly beverage creations with a small selection of food, including a few select McDonald’s favorites — all designed to elevate your mood into the stratosphere, just for a few minutes,” the company said.
While the menu is set to include some McDonald’s staples — like Egg McMuffins sandwiches and M&M McFlurries — other items on the menu include a Creamy Avocado Tomato Sandwich, a Spicy Queso Sandwich, Savory Hash Brown Bites, Pretzel Bites and a Sausage Box. On the sweet side, the menu includes blueberry lemon cookie sundaes and caramel fudge brownies, according to the Chicago-based chain.
CosMc’s drink menu
The restaurant touts CosMc’s drink menu as “brand-new, global, beverage creations.” An overview of the beverage menu, which includes specialty lemonades and teas, espresso drinks, blended drinks and cold coffee, including Sour Cherry Energy Slush, a Tropical Spicy State and S’mores Cold Brew.
Customers will have options to add boba, flavored syrups, energy boosters or vitamin C shots and more, the restaurant said.
Why is it called CosMc?
The restaurant is based on the vintage McDonald’s logo, GasMC, that appeared in advertisements in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
McDonald’s teased plans to test the new type of restaurant over the summer, but recent images showing a mysterious building with signs of the Golden Arches in suburban Chicago have led to more speculation.
The move is the latest vintage revival for the Chicago-based fast food chain.
Most recently, the company announced that another throwback collection would be coming back. Starting next month, “McNugget Buddies” — friendly collectible items in the form of chicken nuggets that were first introduced as part of Happy Meals 25 years ago — will be part of a new McDonald’s menu called the “Kerwin Frost Box.” said.
When and where does it open?
About 10 locations are expected to open by the end of 2024, including in the Dallas-Fort-Worth and San Antonio metro areas.
A soft opening for the Bolingbrook location is set for Friday, with festivities planned for the weekend, a spokeswoman said.
