Tesla is making waves with its latest venture — a 1950s-style diner and drive-in movie theater combined with a charger station.
Located in Hollywood at 7001 West Santa Monica Boulevard, the site will boast 32 charging stalls, Axios reported.
The ambitious project, initially teased by Elon Musk on Twitter — now known as X — nearly six years ago, is finally taking shape, with construction underway since August after receiving approval from the LA Department of Building and Safety.
Designed by Stantec and constructed by PCL Construction, it’s Tesla’s first foray into blending dining and charging.
The permit calls for a two-story restaurant surrounded by charging stalls, featuring two movie screens and a rooftop bar. Ground-level carhop-style waitstaff will cater to patrons who order ahead from their vehicles. The Hollywood location, formerly a Shakey’s Pizza, holds historical significance along Route 66.
The model could pioneer a new retail category — charge-and-dine stations. Other food chains have expressed intentions to install EV chargers for customers. While Tesla remains tight-lipped about the project, insiders suggest a potential completion by the end of the year.
The Hollywood establishment aims to offer a multifaceted experience, with movie screens showcasing clips from famous films. As Tesla plans to open its Superchargers to other car companies in the spring, this venture adds another dimension to the EV ownership experience.
The project has generated significant interest, leading to unofficial concept images circulating online.
It’s perhaps welcome news in light of Musk’s more controversial recent headlines, which include endorsing anti-Semititic tropes and X’s flailing fortunes after his takeover a little over a year ago.
As for Tesla, the company last week was nearing a deal to open a large downtown Chicago service center just southwest of the Loop.
The electric car giant led by Elon Musk is close to finalizing a roughly 100,000-square-foot lease at 717 South Desplaines Street, a property owned by prominent real estate player 601W Cos., Crain’s reported.
— Ted Glanzer