News Briefs

Elon Musk’s Tesla has opened a restaurant in Hollywood, Calif. that combines classic American diner food, "megascreens" for movie viewing and charging for Tesla and non-Tesla drivers alike.

Tesla Diner is open 24 hours a day and features 250 seats for dining. It also boasts 80 V4 “Supercharger” stalls, making it the largest urban supercharging station in the world, the company said. Although the restaurant has only been open a couple of days, Musk is optimistic about more locations going forward. (To view photos of Tesla Diner, click here.)

“If our retro-futuristic diner turns out well, which I think it will, @Tesla will establish these in major cities around the world, as well as at Supercharger sites on long distance routes,” Musk wrote on X. “An island of good food, good vibes & entertainment, all while Supercharging!”

Located on Santa Monica Blvd., the two-story Tesla Diner has a "retro-futuristic" design, along with two 66-foot LED megascreens. Movies and other special features can be viewed from the restaurant's upper-level "Skypad."  In a modern twist on drive-in theatres, patrons can also watch the movies inside their Tesla vehicle in the parking lot using the Tesla Diner app.

Food can be ordered inside the diner or from inside a Tesla. The selection includes diner classics such as burgers, hot dogs, tuna melts and club sandwiches, along with desserts, coffee drinks, iced tea and fountain drinks. The restaurant also is selling a limited selection of "exclusive merchandise," including "supercharged gummies" and a  retro diner tee featuring the Tesla Diner graphic.

PacSun is gearing up for its “Super Brand Day” on TikTok Shop, a week-long shopping event running from July 24-30.

The campaign kicks off on July 24 with a consumer creator event and livestream at PacSun's SoHo flagship in NYC, featuring appearances by top TikTok creators. From July 25-30, PacSun will livestream shopping sessions from its downtown LA flagship, with hourly rotating deals, exclusive drops and real-time commentary from top creator talent. 

One of the livestreams will run for 24 consecutive hours, starting on July 25 at 4 p.m. (Pacific Time). It will offer limited-time deals and product highlights around the clock, the retailer said.

"Discovering new products and brands on TikTok is how the next generation shops,” said Brieane Olson, CEO of PacSun. “At PacSun, we see TikTok Shop as something bigger than just a sales channel. It's a place for storytelling, bringing together a community, and a cultural driver. Super Brand Day gives us a chance to lean all the way in, with content, creators, and commerce to create a real-time shopping experience that feels personal and dynamic.”

A leading musical instrument retailer is introducing a new artificial intelligence-based, in-store shopping assistant.

Guitar Center has launched Rig Advisor, a mobile-based AI tool that helps customers discover, compare and explore gear in real time by prioritizing products available at that specific store location. The retailer says the tool, which is now live nationwide, enhances the in-store experience by giving musicians an easy way to navigate options and make more confident decisions.

To use Rig Advisor, customers scan a QR code in-store, type in an artist, song, tone, or gear-related question, and the tool will deliver instant recommendations based on what is in stock at that specific location. Guitar Center says Rig Advisor can be used to build complete instrument setups, compare products side-by-side and more.

“Rig Advisor is like having a professional gear consultant in the palm of your hand, delivering lightning-fast answers as you explore our music stores,” said Gabe Dalporto, CEO of Guitar Center, who took the reins of the company at the end of 2023. “It will turn our stores into tech-powered music hubs where creativity, curiosity, and inspiration lead the way.”

[READ MORE: Guitar Center obtains real-time inventory visibility]

Headquartered outside of Los Angeles, Guitar Center operates more than 300 stores nationwide in addition to operating its e-commerce site. 

A change is in store for a smart TV maker/streaming platform provider that Walmart purchased for $2.3 billion in 2024.

The discount giant plans to make Vizio a private label brand by the end of the year and will sell its smart televisions exclusively at Walmart and Sam’s Club stores, reported Bloomberg News, which cited a memo it viewed. Currently, Vizio TVs are also sold by other retailers, including Target and Amazon.

Walmart completed its purchase of Vizio at the end of 2024, at which point the company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the retail giant. In acquiring Vizio and its SmartCast operating system, Walmart emphasized that the deal would create new opportunities to help advertisers connect with customers, as well as offer new connected TV and streaming content for consumers.

“Vizio offers great products at great prices that customers love," said Seth Dallaire, executive VP and chief growth officer, Walmart U.S., in a press release when the deal was completed. “Vizio has also expertly changed their business over time, like building and quickly scaling a profitable advertising business. Pairing it with Walmart Connect will be impactful and allow us to invest in our business even further on behalf of our customers." 

Making Vizio’s hardware and advertising capabilities exclusive to Walmart will help the retailer fortify and differentiate its growing media empire from that of its competitors, the report said.

Bringing Vizio into its portfolio of private brands marks Walmart’s latest effort to integrate the business as the company looks to sharpen its edge in the competitive advertising industry, Bloomberg reported. The retailer is bringing Vizio’s operating system to its private label TV brand Onn, Bloomberg said, adding that Walmart has been working on making TV a “shoppable” experience, with consumers buying items while watching shows.

 According to the report, Walmart has 90 private label brands, and over 20 generate at least $1 billion in annual sales.

Subway has ended its months-long search for a chief executive.

The quick-serve sandwich giant said that Jonathan Fitzpatrick will join the company as CEO effective July 28, following a comprehensive search. He will succeed Carrie Walsh, who has served as interim chief since John Chidsey retired as Subway CEO at the end of 2024.

Most recently, Fitzpatrick served as president and CEO of automotive services provider Driven Brands, which owns franchised automotive concepts such as Take 5 Oil Change and Maaco. He stepped down from the company, which he led since 2012, earlier this year. 

Prior to Driven Brands, Fitzpatrick served in a range of senior leadership positions at Burger King, including executive VP, chief brand and operations officer. In the role, Fitzpatrick led the single largest menu overhaul in the brand's history, simplified restaurant operations and reimagined the guest experience while modernizing the restaurant's global image, according to a statement by Subway.

Fitzpatrick’s appointment comes as Subway, which was acquired by Roark Capital for $9.6 billion in 2024, works to reverse an ongoing sales decline in the U.S. and expand its global presence.

"I'm honored to lead this iconic brand that has been serving guests around the world for 60 years," Fitzpatrick said. "Subway has a solid foundation built on decades of providing freshly made, better-for-you options with value and convenience. I'm excited by the opportunity to shape the future of the company, working alongside our valued franchisees and employees to help drive increased sales and franchisee profitability and grow our brand around the world."

[READ MORE: First Look: Subway unveils new global restaurant design]

Subway has about 37,000 restaurants worldwide.

A growing Mediterranean fast-casual chain has opened its doors in Michigan.

Cava has opened its first location in the Wolverine State with a 3,850-sq.-ft. location in Canton, a western suburb of Detroit. The chain says it plans to open a second Michigan location soon, with additional locations also in the works. Earlier this year, the Detroit Free Press reported that Cava was slated to open a location in downtown Detroit this summer.

“We’re thrilled to join the Southeast Michigan community and introduce more guests to the bold, vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean,” said Gino Carlin, regional leader at Cava. “Entering the state of Michigan marks our 28th state, and we’re eager to welcome more guests in the Midwest and throughout the country to our table to enjoy our Mediterranean cuisine and hospitality.”

Cava says its goal is to reach 1,000 restaurants by 2032. It opened 58 net new restaurants in its 2024 fiscal year, and expects at least 17% growth in 2025. This spring, Cava opened its first restaurant in Indiana.

[READ MORE: Report: Restaurants to add 490,000 summer jobs this year]

Founded in Rockville, Md., Cava, which went public in 2023, operates more than 300 locations nationwide. Cava's fully-customizable menu comprises of 38 ingredients, creating over 17 billion combinations for guests to enjoy through bowls, pitas, chips, dips, juices and dressings.