is a news editor covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme.
Tesla’s long-in-the-works 1950s-inspired diner and drive-in Supercharger station in Los Angeles is expected to officially open today – and the company may build more of them down the line.
The Tesla Diner lets people grab comfort food like burgers and fries (served in boxes shaped like Cybertrucks) and milkshakes while charging their vehicles. The Diner has giant screens so people can watch things like movie clips while charging their cars, though watching from the screens in your Tesla is apparently an option, too. One of Tesla’s Optimus robots was even spotted serving popcorn at a recent soft launch event.
Basically, it feels like one giant ad for everything Tesla, and this could be just the first of many. If the diner “turns out well,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk says that the company will establish more of them in major cities and “at Supercharger sites on long distance routes.” The company’s brand has taken a huge hit as of late due to Musk’s now-deteriorating relationship with President Trump and cratering sales.