Tesla Inc. (TSLA)'s Hollywood diner experiment is hitting its first major reset. Eric Greenspan, the Los Angeles chef who helped launch the retro-futuristic charging station restaurant just months ago, is out—and the whole operation is getting a makeover.
Chef Eric Greenspan Leaves Tesla Diner as Restaurant Prepares Major Transformation
Get Tesla Alerts
Weekly insights + SMS alerts
Greenspan Departs for Personal Project
Greenspan confirmed to the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday that he's no longer involved with the Tesla Diner project. His departure has been in the works for over a month, he said, and the reason is personal: he's moving on to open Mish, his long-planned Jewish deli.
"I am leaving the Tesla Diner project to focus on the opening of Mish, my long-desired Jewish deli," Greenspan wrote in a text message shared with the paper.
From Drive-In to Dine-In
Meanwhile, employees at the Hollywood location say management recently told them the restaurant is converting to a traditional sit-down, full-service model by January. That's a significant departure from the hybrid walk-up and drive-in concept that launched alongside the site's 80-stall Supercharger station on Santa Monica Boulevard.
The diner opened in July at the Hollywood-West Hollywood border and immediately became a scene—equal parts destination and lightning rod. Tesla fans lined up for burgers and Instagram moments, while protesters showed up over CEO Elon Musk's politics and the diner's giant outdoor screens that some found intrusive.
Menu Evolution and Sales Volume
Greenspan originally designed a classic American diner menu featuring burgers, shakes, fried chicken and waffles, tuna melts, and other nostalgic favorites. But surging demand quickly forced a rethink. Within weeks, Tesla simplified the offerings down to a handful of sandwiches, sides, pies, and shakes to keep up with volume and maintain consistency.
The streamlined approach seems to have worked from a throughput perspective. Tesla disclosed that the diner sold roughly 50,000 burgers during the third quarter alone—a testament to the kitchen's capacity even with the pared-down menu.
Expansion Plans Despite Mixed Reception
Despite polarizing reviews and the operational growing pains, Tesla is already eyeing additional locations. The company is exploring potential diner sites in Austin and Palo Alto, suggesting the Hollywood experiment is being treated as a proof of concept rather than a one-off.
Stock Performance
Tesla shares closed down 1.88% at $401.25 on Tuesday and slipped another 0.72% in after-hours trading. The stock was up 5.79% year-to-date and 18.45% over the past year.
More News

Paulson's 'Break-The-Glass' Warning: Why a Treasury Market Crisis Would Be 'Vicious'
Circle April 20th on your calendar

Drones Take Flight: AEVEX Raises $320 Million in IPO as Defense Tech Heats Up

Newsom Says Americans Paid $10.5 Billion Extra for Gas Amid Iran War, Asks If That's a 'Trump Win'

Newsom to Trump: California Pays Your War Bills, Maybe We Should Stop

Trump's Executive Order 14330: What Wall Street Doesn't Want You to Know

David Ellison's CinemaCon Pitch: 30 Movies a Year and 'Long Live the Movies' Amid Paramount-Warner Deal Scrutiny

Transportation Secretary Pulls $73M From New York In CDL Funding Fight
Get Tesla Alerts
Real-time alerts on price moves, news, and trading opportunities.
Join 20,000+ investors. No spam, ever.
Featured Articles
View all news
Paulson's 'Break-The-Glass' Warning: Why a Treasury Market Crisis Would Be 'Vicious'

Trump's Executive Order 14330: What Wall Street Doesn't Want You to Know (Ad)

Drones Take Flight: AEVEX Raises $320 Million in IPO as Defense Tech Heats Up

Newsom Says Americans Paid $10.5 Billion Extra for Gas Amid Iran War, Asks If That's a 'Trump Win'

Newsom to Trump: California Pays Your War Bills, Maybe We Should Stop
Mar-a-Lago Bombshell (Ad)

David Ellison's CinemaCon Pitch: 30 Movies a Year and 'Long Live the Movies' Amid Paramount-Warner Deal Scrutiny





