Tesla Diner project expected to bring more tourism, jobs

STARBASE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Excitement is growing after Elon Musk posted yesterday that Starbase will be the location where one of his Tesla diners would be set up, as the first one opened in Hollywood, California, on Monday, July 21, 2025.

Valley Central spoke to several people who have different views on the matter, and many believe it can be a major economic booster for the region.

As a space enthusiast, Fernando Jimenez Jr. is excited and ready to see it open once it's ready.

“I think it innovates the restaurant things and there are more and different types of restaurants," Jimenez Jr. said. "This is going to be on another level, and I would tell my dad to take me."

The facility would be a retro-futuristic diner offering traditional American food to the public. Supercharger stalls for electric vehicle owners and a drive-in movie theater will also be at the location.

In California, customers can also watch movies on the diner’s giant screens or in their own vehicles by accessing the Tesla diner app. However, not all seem excited about the new project and view it as something only a select few can enjoy.

"Well, I think that's for people who have money," said Maria Garcia. "Poor people like us—I don’t think we can go that often.”

Others view the potential economic benefits of such a project, as they believe SpaceX has helped many make a more comfortable living.

“I mean, for me it is good for tourists and for other people to come and spend here and visit Brownsville for these types of restaurants," Fernando Jimenez said. "We already have SpaceX, so I think this will be good.”

Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation President and CEO Gilberto Salinas says this will bring more tourism and jobs to the area.

“SpaceX already creates support of about $100 million just in tourism dollars for the greater Brownsville area, you know, by way of about 20,000 rocket watchers that can come in per launch," Salinas said. "Now, there's another thing that they can do, as far as coming into the community, staying in Brownsville for a few days, and the Tesla Diner just adds that experience."

Salinas stated that SpaceX already employs approximately 3,600 people from the Valley, and this project would add more, along with the retail center being planned.

Although no details have been provided yet on when construction will begin, Salinas is excited for what is to come.

“If you go to the star base facility, it's got that Jetsons feel to it," Salinas said. "So when I heard that they're bringing this in, it's like, yeah, of course, we're going to do this. It's relieving those times from back then, when the world was barely seen, it's being launched into space.”