Musk Preparing to Open Restaurant with Theater at Tesla Charging Station

# Elon Musk’s Tesla to Open Complex with Theater and Restaurant in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES—Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Inc., is preparing to open a multipurpose facility that combines a movie theater, restaurant, and charging station at Tesla’s charging locations, according to The New York Times on October 21. The NYT reported that the construction permit application submitted to authorities, along with comments from restaurant industry insiders who have received offers to manage Tesla’s dining facilities, indicates the company is building a late-night restaurant, theater, and charging station on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. The exact opening date of this facility has not yet been determined, the NYT stated. “This marks Tesla’s leader Elon Musk venturing into the hospitality sector,” the newspaper remarked, “in an attempt to recreate the culture of dining at gas stations in the era of electric vehicles, where charging takes longer than refueling.” According to the construction permit application, the complex will feature two screens for showing movies approximately 30 minutes in length. Previously, in August 2023, Musk hinted at Tesla’s foray into restaurant business by posting on X (formerly known as Twitter) that "Our Tesla futuristic diner in LA should be ready later this year." The NYT reported that the Tesla complex currently under completion in LA began construction in September 2023 on a 2,023-square-meter (21,780-square-foot) site. Tesla has approached various prominent restaurant owners in LA with offers to manage Tesla’s dining facilities. Caroline Styne, who received such a proposal in 2023, declined it citing difficulties in generating profit due to the facility not obtaining a liquor license. Styne revealed she subsequently sold her Tesla vehicle due to growing discontent with Musk’s political role. The NYT pointed out that Musk's involvement as head of the Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during the Trump administration, which included plans for federal agency reductions and large-scale government layoffs, has intensified opposition targeted at Tesla. This, in turn, could make Tesla’s entry into the hospitality business more challenging than before. mina@yna.co.kr