Elon Musk devotees camp out for hours to get a glimpse of recent Tesla diner
LOS ANGELES — Tesla lovers started lining up exterior Elon Musk’s long-awaited Tesla Diner & Drive-In in Hollywood early Monday, desirous to get their first glimpse of what’s inside.
However with little readability about when the gates would open, a few of Musk’s most ardent followers waited hours earlier than they had been lastly allowed in at 4:20 p.m., a basic reference Musk typically makes to marijuana.
Constructed within the bustling Hollywood location the place a Shakey’s Pizza was, the retro-futuristic diner, which additionally doubles as a drive-in movie show, is crammed with Tesla know-how — together with its humanoid robotic, Optimus — and merch, equivalent to Cybertruck-themed meals containers.
The menu, created by chef Eric Greenspan, featured diner staples, equivalent to fried hen & waffles, grilled cheese and tuna melts, in addition to some themed objects, such because the “Tesla Burger” with “Electrical Sauce.” Costs vary from $4 for a facet of fries to $15 for biscuits & pink gravy.
As they entered the power, friends had been greeted by servers on curler skates, who rolled up with ice cream samples. The drive-in projector performed the Sixties animated sitcom “The Jetsons,” which depicted life within the twenty first century and featured flying automobiles and a housekeeper robotic. Friends may order objects from a kiosk on the counter.
“I noticed movies of [Optimus] on-line and it was extra of a linear motion, however it’s form of jittery,” stated one attendee, who additionally bought the robotic to attempt to make coronary heart shapes with its hand. Optimus was scooping and handing out popcorn on the second-floor roof deck.
The general public opening is the fruits of Musk’s yearslong ambition to open a Tesla restaurant in Los Angeles, the place the automotive and clear power firm has a big presence. The gang provided a sign of Musk’s continued recognition amongst die-hard Tesla followers, whilst his tech mogul persona has taken successful from his foray into politics.
Musk, whose estimated internet price surpassed $400 billion in 2024, was an in depth ally of President Donald Trump earlier than the 2 had a public falling-out. His Division of Authorities Effectivity’s seemingly indiscriminate authorities spending cuts additionally induced Tesla inventory to plummet as he misplaced public assist.
Nonetheless, dozens of individuals gathered exterior all through the day, ready patiently to be among the many early patrons.
“I just like the retro diner. It’s form of like a Ruby’s Diner. … Placing all this collectively is simply very distinctive,” stated Vera Hammar, who drove 80 miles from Beaumont along with her husband, Morgan, and their daughter, Mackenzie Torres, in hope of seeing what the Tesla Diner has to supply.
The household, who all determine as Tesla superfans, personal a complete of 4 Tesla autos, together with a Cybertruck. (It was 5 earlier than they not too long ago bought one.)
As individuals stood ready on the sidewalk for hours, many started to mingle and make pals with different Tesla followers.
Some in line had been overheard asking each other what sort of Teslas they’ve. Others interacted with individuals whose social media presences they acknowledged. The creator behind the account for Tesla Homeowners Silicon Valley, who has 1.2 million followers on X, flew in early Monday and needed to hold pushing his return flight again. His pal got here in a Cybertruck that was adorned with photos of “Doge,” a widely known web meme that impressed the title of Musk’s DOGE.
“It’s been enjoyable ready, simply form of speaking to individuals,” Vera Hammar stated. “It’s a really, very pleasant crowd. Like, [my husband] has seen lots of people he follows on X.”
A delicate launch over the weekend stirred some fanfare on-line, as invitees showcased the diner’s large movie show screens and spacecraft-themed rest room and Optimus’ serving popcorn on the counter. Movies of the cafe unfold throughout X, YouTube and Reddit.
