McDonald's new coffee-focused restaurant, CosMc, opened in Bolingbrook, IL. I drove over and experienced the excitement first-hand. Aside from my usual restaurant reviews, I decided to take a more personal approach with CosMc. The building rests on W Boughton Rd, inside a large shopping plaza. The first look at the fast food chain reveals a Yellow slanted Logo that includes a single arch design similar to McDonald's.
The dark purple/blue building features a large accent wall with yellow halftones. The visual gives off a modern vibe. Behind the restaurant are four drive-thru stations with large LED screens and voice-ordering machines. On grand opening day, the lot was accompanied by a DJ, balloons, and a CosMc-wrapped Jeep Wrangler.
An interesting addition to the grand opening was a branded van where the DJ was performing. The old-school van was designed with CosMc brand colors and included a few unique graphics. The first was a robot-like head with two antennas on the top of the character. The front door featured the text "From The [Mcdonald's] Universe."
My initial thoughts are that we're leaning towards automation and the metaverse. The restaurant does not have an interior section for guests, limiting the time spent at the location. This kind of automation tells me that this restaurant is aiming to be quicker than its fast food competitors. As for the robot head graphic and text on the van, I think it's related to the digital space. The metaverse continues to be a popular topic among consumers, and restaurant chains are already experimenting with its potential. Capabilities can include making orders online more engaging and fun while possibly staying at home.
Regardless, it appears that CosMc is trying to provide a solution for people looking for a quick bite and coffee. This restaurant might take productivity to another level if fast food wasn't fast enough. By reducing the interior space, you can get more drive-thru stations in the same-sized lots as other McDonald's properties.
Upon entering the plaza, CosMc employees held signs directing traffic toward the back of the lot. I was lined up with at least 50 cars, escorted by the Bolingbrook Police. A CosMc representative was walking around with a QR sign on the menu. I waited for about 3 hours before I reached the restaurant.
After being placed inside one of the four drive-thrus, there was a display advertising CosMC's new drinks. The first featured beverage is the Sour Cherry Energy Burst, which contains mango. The second is called Island Pick-Me-Up Punch, which incorporates lemon and strawberries. Both were colorful and looked very appetizing.
Once I got over to the ordering machine, I was surprised to see a card payment processor, which means you can pay for your meal on the spot. This is interesting, and I wonder if there's an option to pay in cash at CosMc's. A worker politely greeted me in a way that was similar to Starbucks and continued to ask for my order. After ordering, I was instructed to pay at the machine, and the display panel lit up in a "Payment Successful" animation. Another graphic appears on the adjacent panel, which says, "Hang tight as we prepare your order," and it features the robotic head. I had to patiently wait until my order was ready before I could drive forward to the window. It was at this time that I started seeing advertisements for menu items looping on the display.
I browsed through the menu options available on the display at the CosMc drive-thru. The top section featured iced teas, lemonades, and coffee brews. Some interesting items include Tropical Spiceade, Sour Tango Lemonade, S'Mores Cold Brew, Turmeric Spiced Latte, and more. The menu also highlighted add-ons like Fruity Boba, Energy Shot, Dair Substitutes, and Flavor Syrup.
The following section was about CosMc's Signature Galactic Boosts. The lineup for the beverages is Sour Cherry Energy Blast, Berry Hibiscus Sour-Ade, Island Pick-Me-Up Punch, and Blueberry Ginger Boost. Each drink had a detailed sentence that described the flavor in depth.
The next section highlighted Slushes and Frappes. CosMc's menu puts an emphasis on the Churro Frappe, which looks delicious. Aside from your typical soda beverages, CosMc is clearly focusing on crafted drinks. Customers can also enjoy food items like sundaes, ice cream, shakes, and McDonald's McFlurry. The last section on the menu displayed a few snacks like pretzel bites and cookies, along with sandwiches, some from McDonald's. Take a closer look at the drive-thru menu in our photos below.
After spending 3 hours in CosMc's atmosphere, it's no surprise that McDonald's knows how to hype new initiatives. The grand opening attractions, like the DJ, made waiting a bit easier. The Bolingbrook police did a great job maintaining order in the parking lot. After ordering and leaving the drive-thru, I was presented with a mural saying, "Have a nice sip", and boy, did I have a nice experience. If you're interested in more reviews about recently opened restaurants, visit our news page.
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