Tesla’s long-awaited Diner & Drive-In in Hollywood is nearing completion, transforming the former Shakey’s Pizza site at 7001 Santa Monica Boulevard.
What Now Los Angeles previously reported on this development when the company submitted documentation to the Los Angeles Planning Department for a proposed 9,300-square-foot restaurant that would also feature a drive-in movie theater and EV charging stations, but additional information was limited. Now, it’s become a little clearer what customers can expect, now that the project has made significant progress since What Now reported on it in 2022.
Tesla’s new diner and drive-in in Hollywood is nearing completion and combines futuristic design with electric vehicle infrastructure. The two-story structure, designed by the architecture firm Stantec, features a saucer-shaped roof and a metallic facade. It includes over 75 V4 Supercharger stalls and two large 45-foot LED movie screens intended to show short films and vintage clips. Additional amenities include rooftop seating, a bar, and a drive-in movie theater.
The diner will operate 24/7 with a carhop-style service model, where staff on roller skates deliver food directly to parked vehicles. The Tesla diner in Los Angeles will be run by Eric Greenspan as the chef and Bill Chait as the restaurateur, according to Eater Los Angeles. Greenspan will oversee the culinary program, while Chait brings his experience in hospitality to the operation. The diner is reportedly a prototype for a new type of Tesla charging station that includes a restaurant component, integrating dining and EV charging into a single concept.
Greenspan, known for his work at The Foundry on Melrose and as the executive chef of Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese, brings extensive experience in both traditional and virtual dining concepts. Chait, a seasoned restaurateur with a history of involvement in notable Los Angeles establishments such as Republique and Bestia, is collaborating with Greenspan to manage the diner. Together, they aim to integrate quality dining with Tesla’s innovative charging infrastructure.
There is currently no official opening date for the Tesla Diner & Drive-In, which Elon Musk announced in 2018 as a retro-style diner at a Supercharger location in Los Angeles. Permit approval was granted on July 18, 2023, and construction officially began in late September 2023. Initial site grading and foundation work were completed by early November 2023. Although Musk initially suggested a late 2023 opening, the project remains under construction as of March 2025, with no confirmation on when it will open.
