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SpaceX Building a Restaurant? · Elon Musk Podcast

• 0:01
  Hey, everybody. Welcome back.
• 0:03
  To the Elon Musk. Podcast This is a show where we
• 0:06
  discuss the critical crossroads, the shape SpaceX.
• 0:09
  Tesla X. The Boring Company and
• 0:12
  Neuralink. And I'm.
• 0:14
  Your host will Walden if you want.
• 0:16
  Uninterrupted episodes of the Elon Musk podcast.
• 0:19
  Please go to clubelon.supercast.com to find
• 0:24
  out how. There's a link in the show notes
• 0:26
  SpaceX is expanding its reach down at Starbase, Texas.
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  And I'm not talking about rockets.
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  I'm talking about something completely different, talking
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  about a shopping complex and a restaurant near Starbase.
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  It's named Rio West, and the project entails a $15 million
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  investment, according to the Texas Department of Licensing
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  and Regulation filing. It's a significant shift for
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  Starbase and for SpaceX as they're getting it to retail,
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  commercial infrastructure and developments that are adjacent
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  to Starbase. Now, these figures are from the
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  TDLR, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and
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  they're shifting away from rockets a little bit and getting
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  into infrastructure of commercial developments that are
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  adjacent to the spaceport. Now the breakdown of cost for
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  the new development reveals that the restaurant is projected to
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  cost approximately $6.14 million while the shopping center is
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  estimated at 8.96 million. Now the restaurant which is
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  going to be amazing. It boasts a scenic view of the
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  Rio Grande. It's planned to cover 7680
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  square feet. The design includes a 3500
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  square foot area for indoor dining, a substantial 2500
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  square foot space for kitchen and back of house operations,
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  and a 930 square foot outdoor deck for guests to enjoy the
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  panoramic views of Texas. Now, according to the filing,
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  the purpose of the Rio West is to cater to the local community
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  and stimulate neighborhood development.
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  This aligns with Spacex's broader vision of creating a
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  whole ecosystem around Starbase that benefits the surrounding
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  community and the area. Now, the accompanying shopping
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  center is set to feature a diverse mix of retail outlets
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  including a grocery store and a cafe across an 11,200 square
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  foot space. Now the plans also highlight
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  additional enhancements such as landscaped areas and a parking
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  lot designated for staff equipped with 7 parking stalls.
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  Now the construction timelines for these projects are quite
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  specific with an expected commencement date of March 15th
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  and a completion target by the end of December.
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  Now this ambitious schedule indicates that SpaceX is
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  committed to rapidly developing the Rio West complex for future
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  space flights from Starbase. Now, WRNS Studio, which is a
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  California-based design firm, has been selected to lead the
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  architectural efforts for both the restaurant and the shopping
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  center. The firm is distinguished by its
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  headquarters location and it's recognition by the International
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  Living Futures Institute, having been awarded a huge award.
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  It's called the Just Label for its commitment to various equity
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  indicators. The development of Rio West
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  comes at a time when Spacex's activities at Starbase are
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  already having a notable impact on local businesses in the Rio
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  Grande Valley. Establishments in South Padre
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  Island, Port Isabel and also Brownsville have experienced
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  increased patronage due to space tourism, despite its inherent
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  unpredictability. Basically, if a launch is
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  scheduled for, let's say, a Monday, you may be there until
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  Friday because the launch might slip a little bit or you might
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  be there a couple weeks depending on what happens with
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  the hardware. One, for instance, is the
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  Grapevine Cafe in South Padre Island, and they see unusual
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  surges in customers during Space XS Starship launch events.
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  Now the cafe typically quieter during the fall and winter
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  months. I've been there and it is very
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  quiet. There's a few people in there.
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  But now during these launches, it's filled to capacity, which
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  illustrates the draw of Starbase and also the space launches.
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  Thousands of people will flood the area to see this gigantic
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  rocket fly. Now the influx of space
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  enthusiasts to the area, drawn by the spectacle of SpaceX
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  launches, has also provided a welcome economic boost.
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  Local businesses reporting significant uptick in revenue
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  attributed directly to the events at Starbase, which has
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  become a key attraction to the area.
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  It's a tourism area now and beyond the immediate economic
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  benefits, the presence of SpaceX in the region is fostering a
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  greater interest in space and technology among the local
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  population. Educational and professional
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  aspirations and fields related to aerospace are becoming more
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  prevalent, suggesting a long term positive effect on the
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  community's development. Now, despite these advancements,
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  though, Cameron County, where Starbase is located, still faces
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  challenges. With a significant portion of
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  its population living below the poverty line, Spacex's
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  contributions to the local economy are sustainable, but
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  have yet to fully address the broader socio economic issues.
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  The economic impact of SpaceX extends beyond direct employment
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  and local spending, though. The company's investment in the
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  area, particularly the Starbase area, amounts to billions of
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  dollars, underscoring its role as a major economic driver for
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  the region. The influence of SpaceX and its
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  activities is also evident in traditional sectors such as
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  fishing at nearby Port Isabel, local businesses, including bait
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  and tackle shops. You've seen changes in customer
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  demographics and sales patterns due to Starbase.
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  Now the integration of Spacex's launch activities, however, with
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  the local environment and traditional industries has
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  raised concerns. The environmental and ecological
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  impacts of frequent launches are still being assessed, with
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  potential implications or the area's wildlife and fisheries
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  now also something interesting. The anticipation and aftermath
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  of SpaceX launches have become community events in themselves,
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  affecting not just businesses but also local culture and daily
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  life. In Brownsville and the Rio
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  Grande Valley, residents and visitors alike are drawn to the
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  spectacle, blending traditional pastimes like fishing with the
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  excitement of space exploration. And also, a lot of people go to
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  gather the remnants of a launch, The things that fell off a
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  Starship or things that were blown up during the launch, such
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  as during the IFT One launch. There were concrete scraps, you
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  could find them on eBay. People were selling them for
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  absurd amounts of money. Now in Brownsville though, the
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  influence of SpaceX has even permeated the local craft
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  brewing scene, with establishments like Pluton
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  Brewing Company experiencing increased patronage during
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  launch events. The brewery's name and theme,
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  while not directly related to SpaceX, resonates with the space
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  fueled enthusiasm pervading the community of spaceflight
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  enjoyers. Now SpaceX is foray into
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  commercial development with the Rio West project is part of a
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  broader trend for the company's deepening impact on the Rio
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  Grande Valley. Through initiatives like Rio
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  West and its ongoing spaceport operations, SpaceX is not only
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  advancing spaceflight ambitions, but also contributing to the
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  economic and the cultural fabric of Brownsville and S proudly
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  Island and also near Starbase. Hey, thank you so much for.
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  Listening today. I really do.
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  Appreciate your. Support if.
• 7:13
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  button on whatever podcast platform that you're listening
• 7:17
  on right now. I'd greatly appreciate it.
• 7:20
  It helps out the show tremendously.
• 7:22
  And you'll. Never miss an episode and each
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  episode is about 10 minutes or. Less.
• 7:27
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• 7:30
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• 7:36
  And please take care of yourselves and each other and
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  I'll see you tomorrow.