The Menlo Park sales/service center - Page 2

doug · 05-14-2008, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent

I remember all those dealerships back in the late '80s when I'd make the odd bicycle slog to Safeway. Gone! Jeez -- I guess the riches of Silicon Valley didn't extend to buying cars in the neighborhood.

Brent, a couple informative articles articles about that plot of land. One from just before, and one from just after the Tesla Menlo Park store announcement.

El Camino land may remain vacant | Oakland Tribune | Find Articles at BNET.com

Quote:

The four vacant lots on the east side of El Camino Real once housed car dealerships stretching from the Stanford Park Hotel to the Menlo Station Shopping Center. But in the last three years the dealers decided to close their doors while continuing to rent the land, a cheaper alternative than continuing to operate. The last dealership, Stanford Lincoln Mercury, closed this summer.
...
Stanford is planning to redevelop that side of El Camino Real and wants to control all the property there before moving ahead, which is why the lots could remain vacant six more years.
The university has already bought out the leaseholder for the southernmost lot, where Anderson Chevrolet once operated, and it expects to obtain ownership of the Stanford Lincoln Mercury site this year. The university is still pursuing buyout agreements on the remaining lots, last occupied by a Buick General Motors dealership anda Ford Motors dealership.

Palo Alto Daily News

Quote:

The company [Tesla Motors] last Friday signed a short-term lease with Stanford University, which owns the old Anderson Chevrolet site at 300 El Camino Real. It wants to move in before next year.

Because Stanford is preparing to redevelop its El Camino Real properties from the Stanford Park Hotel to the Menlo Station shopping center, Tesla Motors probably will have to relocate in five years or sooner.

The lease has a buyout clause, so the company would move out as soon as Stanford wants the land back, said Mike Harrigan, Tesla's vice president of customer service and support. Although he did not disclose details of the deal, Harrigan said the university gave Tesla an excellent price.

Brent · 05-18-2008, 11:01 PM

Thanks, Doug. It appears the Farm has a continuing demand for land, although I wouldn't quite know what it wants to do with these properties. They're relatively far from campus. Maybe they're thinking SLAC II -- Revenge of the Supercollider.

doug · 06-29-2008, 11:30 PM

Drove by tonight and happened to be able to see through the large front window a red Roadster (maybe EP2) parked inside in the back. Seems like they're making some progress.
Other things I've noticed in recent weeks is that the chain link fence has gone away, one corner of the front building has been modified, and unfortunately there's some new graffiti in a couple spots.

Tesla R1 · 07-05-2008, 09:49 PM

The red Roadster is still there but there's also a yellow one now (w/ hardtop).
I'm looking foward to the opening, hopefully in a few weeks' time.

graham · 07-05-2008, 11:14 PM

I thought this had been mentioned here before, but scrolling back I do not see it.

For those unaware, there will be an invitation-only grand opening of the Menlo Park store on Saturday July 19 for owners. When the L.A. store opened, they had something similar on the first Saturday it was open, but 2 days before they had that big VIP celebrity party that has been the subject of so many articles here and elsewhere. It is unclear if they plan to do anything like that VIP party for the Menlo Park store. The July 19 owners party is the earliest date of which I am aware.

I assume the store will be opened to the public at large soon thereafter (perhaps the next week).

-g

TEG · 07-05-2008, 11:52 PM

I hope they invited Martin...

TEG · 07-05-2008, 11:55 PM

Doug posted this picture:

I wonder why that car in your picture has non stock rear wheels on the back... A whitestar 'mule' perhaps?

doug · 07-06-2008, 12:34 AM

Yeah, I drove by just on my way home just 15 minutes ago and caught a glimpse of the yellow car. EP5 maybe?? Is there another yellow car that we know of? Next time I drive by in the day time, I'll try to remember to snap a photo or two for those interested.

Thanks for the update, graham.

.

vfx · 07-06-2008, 08:15 AM

Tesla R1 notes the Yellow one has a hard top. Have not seen that yet. Would be cool to see it in carbon fiber like the "rollbar".

Looking forward to Doug's pictures.

doug · 07-06-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEG

I wonder why that car in your picture has non stock rear wheels on the back... A whitestar 'mule' perhaps?

Actually, I think it might be. See a thread on that here: Possible Whitestar mule??