After Just Two Years, McDonald’s Is Closing All CosMc’s

McDonald’s spinoff concept, CosMc’s is shutting down after just two years. In a Friday announcement, the chain said that all five locations will be permanently closed.

CosMc’s, a specialty beverage concept with select McDonald’s offerings, was inspired by a fictional alien character of the same name. It first appeared in McDonaldland TV/print ads in 1986, before being discontinued in 1992. 

The space-themed spinoff was created in response to specialty coffee and beverage chains like Dutch Bros and Scooters, which are popular among Gen Z consumers. McDonald’s designed CosMc’s to be an afternoon pitstop for refreshment, but soon found that customizable drinks weren’t enough to bring customers in.

Shifting spending habits also impacted sales. Faced with economic uncertainty, customers are pinching pennies and being very particular about what they spend money on, which makes the climate tricky for major brand spinoffs. 

While this spells the end for CosMc’s, some menu items will survive the closure. In a recent earnings call, CEO Chris Kempczinski said the chain is testing new CosMc’s-inspired customizable drinks set to appear at select franchisees sometime this year.