The end of an era in West Hollywood may not have come as a shock to everyone — especially not Tom Schwartz.
Following news that Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd are selling TomTom, the bar made famous on “Vanderpump Rules,” Schwartz is speaking out — and revealing he saw the writing on the wall long before the announcement.
During a recent interview, Schwartz admitted that while the decision still carries emotional weight, it didn’t exactly catch him off guard.
“TomTom is officially on the market. Ken and Lisa reached out to me, and they said it in the sweetest way possible, and I kind of knew this was coming, [because] it’s been tough,” Schwartz explained. “Schwartz said in an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight. “So many places are going out of business on Sunset Boulevard. West Hollywood’s been struggling. The bar/restaurant industry is decimated … But I kind of knew this was coming.”
A Full-Circle Moment for the ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Era
TomTom wasn’t just another bar — it became a central fixture of “Vanderpump Rules,” helping elevate both Schwartz and Tom Sandoval from cast members to business partners under Vanderpump’s umbrella.
Now, with the venue heading toward a sale, it signals a major shift not just for the business, but for the Bravo universe that helped build it.
Even so, Schwartz made it clear there’s no bitterness toward Lisa Vanderpump or Ken Todd — only appreciation.
“I learned so much about the business and myself. And I got to be in business with Lisa Vanderpump and Ken. They’re OGs. They’ve been doing it their whole lives, successfully, and yeah, it was a formative experience for me,” he shared. “Also, it’s cool to have your name on the side of a bar in West Hollywood.”
Where He Stands With Tom Sandoval Now
GettyThe TomTom news also comes after a turbulent period between Schwartz and his longtime friend and business partner Tom Sandoval.
Their relationship fractured in the aftermath of Sandoval’s highly publicized scandal involving Ariana Madix — a situation that led to intense backlash and even impacted their shared business ventures.
But according to Schwartz, things have shifted.
“We took a long break from each other after the fallout with Schwartz and Sandy’s and everything. But it was a healthy break,” he revealed. “I still love Tom. We’ve been through so much together. He’ll always be a brother or family to me. And it’s good to be friends again.”
In fact, Schwartz says Sandoval reached out with a supportive message following his casting on “The Valley.”
“He reached out to me, and he’s like, ‘Dude, I’m so happy for you,’” Schwartz said.
Stepping Out of the ‘Sidekick’ Role
With TomTom now potentially closing this chapter, Schwartz appears to be embracing a new phase — one where he’s no longer standing in the background.
“[But] it was cool to just, to not be kind of a sidekick,” he continued of his full-time addition to “The Valley.” “I think a lot of times I got relegated to sidekick status, which I didn’t mind. I liked being in the sidecar, but I guess I’m in the driver’s seat this season.”
That shift — from sidekick to center stage — may ultimately define Schwartz’s next chapter more than any bar ever could.
Still, with TomTom on the market, one thing is clear: a cornerstone of the “Vanderpump Rules” universe is coming to an end — and even the people closest to it knew it couldn’t last forever.
