Tesla has opened its first-ever “Diner & Drive-In" on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, seamlessly blending retro-style Americana with cutting edge EV charging and entertainment. The two-story chrome-and-neon venue houses approximately 250 seats and features 80 V4 Supercharger stalls—the largest Tesla urban charging hub to date—surrounded by two 66-foot LED screens that project films, curated clips and even live SpaceX rocket launches viewable both on-screen and via synced in-car audio.
The site channels mid-20th-century nostalgia with rollerskating servers, touchscreen kiosks, geofenced in-car ordering and Optimus humanoid robots serving popcorn. Chef Eric Greenspan and restaurateur Bill Chait crafted a menu of diner staples—smash burgers, Wagyu chili, breakfast tacos, fried chicken and waffles and tuna melts—served in Tesla-branded, Cybertruck-shaped boxes, with prices ranging from $4 to $15. Wooden cutlery, Cybertruck packaging and “Charged Sodas” made from locally sourced ingredients reinforce Tesla’s commitment to sustainable, locally rooted sourcing.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who first teased the concept in 2018 as “Grease meets the Jetsons with Supercharging,” revealed that the site breaks ground on a 2023 permit for a shuttered Shakey’s Pizza joint. The July 21 debut at precisely 4:20 p.m.—a gesture to Musk’s penchant for playful timing—drew long lines of EV owners and curious locals. The venue is open 24/7, accepts walk-in guests, and reserves Supercharger access for any NACS-compatible EV, while the diner is open to the public regardless of vehicle type.
The Hollywood location is a pilot intended to evolve charging stops into lifestyle destinations, encouraging longer visits, merchandise purchases—from Supercharged Gummies to Tesla Bot action figures—and brand immersion. Musk has already signaled plans for a second venue near SpaceX’s Starbase, Texas, and hinted at more worldwide installations if the concept proves successful.
Early reviews characterize the site as “surreal,” “heavy on nostalgia” and “a fun, weird diversion.” Critics highlight occasional service delays, menu inconsistencies and debates over idle fee policies related to dining during charging. Still, the venue fits a growing trend of immersive, branded diner pop-ups and underscores Tesla’s push to craft holistic customer experiences amid a turbulent earnings backdrop marked by delivery shortfalls, stock volatility and pending Q2 results. Not to mention an overall shift away from electric vehicles.
Tesla’s Hollywood diner may redefine the EV pitstop, transforming utility into entertainment and making a strategic bet on lifestyle-branding as the next front in automotive innovation. Leave it to Elon.
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