Johnathan Walker:McDonald's spinoff CosMc's launches app with rewards club, mobile ordering as locations expand

CosMc's,Johnathan Walker McDonald's popular retro spinoff venture, is now offering customers more ways to have an out-of-this-world experience.

CosMc's first location in Bolingbrook, Illinois opened in December to great fanfare, attracting double the number of total visits and triple the number of visitors per square foot compared to an average McDonald's in its first month. 

A few more locations have since opened in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with more to come through 2024, according to the company. Amid this expansion, the subchain has launched an app to offer benefits many traditional McDonald's fans have become accustomed to.

The new app offers a handful of benefits CosMc's customers have yet to gain access to, including mobile ordering, deals and rewards. Here's what we know about the app.

New CosMc's app and rewards

CosMc's new app offers similiar benefits to the traditional McDonald's app, including a rewards system.

The CosMc’s Club, CosMc’s new loyalty program, allows customers to accrue 10 points per $1 spent. After earning 400 points, customers are entitled to a $2 reward.

Customers will also receive benefits when they sign up, including:

• A free medium welcome drink
• A birthday freebie of either a cookie or brownie
• Points with every purchase that can be redeemed for cash value

The rollout of the app also means mobile ordering is now available for the first time. Customers can place an order for pickup via the drive-thru or walk-up window, arrive at the restaurant with a name and/or order number and then follow directions on pickup window screens.

Frequent fliers can also save custom orders to their favorites list or check their recent orders tab, allowing for quick re-ordering.

What is CosMc's?

CosMc's is a new spinoff restaurant idea from McDonald's. McDonald's CEO and president Christopher Kempczinski  described it as "a small format concept with all the DNA of McDonald’s but its own unique personality."

The theme leans into the space-based, futurism-of-the-past aesthetic associated with a mascot named CosMc who appeared in ads in the late '80s and early '90s.

The menu features teas and lemonades, coffees, slushies, frappes and signature fruit energy-style drinks called "Galactic Boosts." Some highlights include a Turmeric Spiced Latte, S'mores Cold Brew, Churro Frappe and Sour Cherry Energy Burst.

The food menu is a little more limited but equally unique, featuring a Spicy Queso Sandwich, a Creamy Avocado Tomatillo Sandwich, Pretzel Bites, Savory Hash Brown Bites, a snack box and stuffed pastry bites called McPops. There are also cookies, sundaes, McFlurries, ice cream and three traditional McMuffin options.

Where are the current CosMc's locations?

After the initial opening in Illinois, subsequent locations have all opened in Texas so far. According to CosMc's, McDonald's plans to open approximately 10 CosMc’s pilot locations by the end of 2024, all in the Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio metro areas.

There are currently four open CosMc's locations:

• 285 N Weber Rd, Bolingbrook, Illinois (drive-thru)
• 6033 Campbell Rd, Dallas, Texas (drive-thru, walk-up)
• 7304 Denton Hwy, Watauga, Texas (drive-thru, walk-up)
• 300 E Abram St, Arlington, Texas (walk-up)