McDonald's is opening its first spin-off chain with first location

McDonald's look just about ready to launch their spin-off restaurant CosMc's, with the first location set to open in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

The fast food giant announced they'd be giving a spin-off a go earlier this year, promising to launch a 'small-format concept with all the DNA of McDonald’s, but its own unique personality'.

They're calling it CosMc's, after the alien mascot you probably don't even know existed.

Digging into the deep lore of McDonald's mascots (it's more detailed than you'd think), CosMc is a weird alien guy from outer space who visits McDonaldland because he has a huge craving for McDonald's.

He appeared in a bunch of Maccies adverts in the late 80s and early 90s before quietly being put away.

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However, earlier this year Fast Company reported that McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski had announced they were going to be launching a few CosMc's in early 2024.

Now that it's almost time for the new year, their first location has been spotted and the menu looks to have been set up as well.

It's unclear right now whether the menus outside the first location in Illinois, which isn't yet open, reveal what you can actually buy from CosMc's or whether they're just a placeholder to keep some secrets.

However, by the looks of things CosMc's is going for more of a drinks focus with smaller snack-like food options compared to McDonald's.

Iman Jalali / LIFESTYLOGY /TMX

Much of the menu space is dominated by iced teas and other cold drinks, while there are also hot drink options.

With about two-thirds of the menu taken up by drinks, the final third is stuffed with food including a Spicy Queso Sandwich and the usual selection of McMuffins.

There are a bunch of other bits and pieces you can buy, but it looks like a much more drink-focused version of the McDonald's menu with just a few other items held over for snacks.

Anyone heading to CosMc's in the hopes of buying a billion McNuggets might not find what they're looking for.

Iman Jalali / LIFESTYLOGY /TMX

According to the Metro, this new spot McDonald's is opening could build on the McCafe menu and be set up as a rival to places like Starbucks.

With one of those on every corner it might only be a matter of time before CosMc's conquers the world in equal measure.

Or perhaps it'll not get beyond a few testing sites in Illinois and people will wonder what McDonald's were doing opening a drinks outlet named after one of their alien mascots who nobody remembers.

One of those two.