McDonald's closing five remaining CosMc's locations

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

McDonald's is closing its five remaining CosMc's restaurants for good just 18 months after launching . The fast food empire will shutter the locations next month after attempting to compete with chains like Dutch Bros. and Starbucks with the drink-focused spinoff.
'It's right down the road from us....ALWAYS dead. Hardly ever more than 2 cars in line and no one in the lanes. Stupid idea, stupid locations,' a customer responded. 'Well that was quick,' another user said of the closures. CosMc's was operating in Illinois and Texas, and was described by CEO Chris Kempczinski as a 'small format concept with all the DNA of McDonald's but its own unique personality.'
McDonald's began closing the CosMc's locations earlier this year, shutting three in January . CosMc's restaurants were the talk of social media after the company opened its first location in December 2023 . The concept was initially a success, and customers from France and the UK flew to Illinois to try one of its unique drinks. Some of the fun menu options include a Sea Salted Carmelactic Shaken Espresso and a French Toast Galaxy Latte.
Experts from Cybersyn concluded the restaurants were off to a strong start, with each store generating about $1.6 million in sales within the first 8 months of operation. While it's unclear how much money CosMc's has made this year, McDonald's has been on a bumpy ride regarding its finances. The chain suffered a 3.6 percent sales dip in the first quarter of this year - the biggest drop since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Now, the company is looking to lure back customers through perks such as the McValue meal deal . Although there will no longer be any CosMc's restaurants, some of its menu items will live on. Kempczinski said the chain is testing new customizable drinks inspired by the soon-defunct spinoff with some franchisees later this year.
CosMc's is not McDonald's only failure. The chain previously made headlines for attempting to sell a meat-free burger in America . The burger, dubbed the McPlant, was axed in 2024 following years of unsuccessful tests in California and Texas. Canadian McDonald's restaurants tested a McVeggie earlier this year with the potential of bringing it to the US.