McDonald's had teased plans to test out a new kind of restaurant under the famed golden arch brand, but it appears that plan is coming to fruition in a Chicago suburb.
A mysterious new restaurant has been under construction in Bolingbrook and it appears it is a secret spinoff from McDonald's, according to recently captured images showing the building's unveiled façade.
The restaurant is named CosMc's.
McDonald's did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago's requests for comment, but CNBC reported the company's CEO Chris Kempczinski spoke about the idea in the burger chain's second-quarter earnings call over the summer.
"CosMc's is a small-format concept with all the DNA of McDonald's but its own unique personality," he said.
Further details about the restaurant have not been released, including an opening date, though Kempczinski reportedly indicated an early 2024 opening plan during his earlier remarks.
The chain apparently plans to test the restaurants in "a limited geography," but more details were expected to be released in December.
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The restaurant appeared to be based on a vintage McDonaldland mascot named CosMc, an alien character who appeared in ads in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The move is the latest vintage revival for the Chicago-based fast food chain.
Most recently, the company announced another throwback collectible would be coming back. Beginning next month, "McNugget Buddies" — friendly collectors items in the shape of chicken nuggets, first introduced as part of Happy Meals more than 25 years ago — will be part of a new McDonald's meal called the "Kerwin Frost Box," the chain said.
