“Vanderpump Rules” alums Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval launched their bar, Schwartz & Sandy’s, in 2022 after finding success with their joint venture alongside Lisa Vanderpump at TomTom in West Hollywood. However, just two years later, the Bravo pair announced the closure of their establishment. The decision wasn’t an easy one, but it came amid mounting challenges, one of them being the backlash surrounding Sandoval’s high-profile affair.
But would Schwartz ever reconsider working with Sandoval in the restaurant business again? After learning from their mistakes, it’s possible the men could consider revisiting the idea.
Tom Schwartz Addresses Whether He Would Team up With Tom Sandoval Again After Bar Closure
GettyWould Tom Schwartz ever consider opening up another bar/restaurant with Tom Sandoval? Speaking to the Daily Dish in April, “The Valley” star gave his honest take on the idea, given that the duo’s bar, Schwartz & Sandy’s, closed after just two years.
“I don’t think I would ever open a bar with Tom again,” Schwartz admitted. However, he didn’t completely rule out future collaborations with his longtime friend, noting that while another bar is out of the question, a different type of business venture together could still be a possibility.
“But I hope to work with him again ’cause I love Tom. And we do have a really good collaborative energy. I enjoy working with Tom. We’re so different, but we’re also a lot alike. I feel like we really balance each other out. We really do. But I hope someday we can work together in some capacity. You know what I mean?” Schwartz added.
What Happened to Schwartz & Sandy’s?
In November 2024, Schwartz and Sandoval announced that they had made the tough decision to close down their West Hollywood establishment, Schwartz & Sandy’s. Speaking to People, Schwartz shared, “Deciding to close was one of the hardest decisions we’ve made. We agonized over it for quite some time because we truly believe it’s a great bar, still ripe with potential.”
Schwartz explained that the decision to close down the bar came down to a combination of factors, including the lingering fallout from Sandoval’s affair with Rachel Leviss, which he said ultimately hurt the business.
“Unfortunately, the current climate for this business is pretty rough. Recovering from all the negativity post-scandal wasn’t easy, and the slimmer margins post-COVID made it even harder to bounce back. There’s not a lot of room for error in the restaurant/bar business,” he added.
As fans can recall, the men documented their decision to open their own space on “Vanderpump Rules,” but it didn’t come without its hardships, including staffing challenges, management issues, and financial strain. In fact, it also affected Schwartz’s marriage to Katie Maloney, and the couple separated in March 2022. Additionally, after “Scandoval,” hundreds of negative Yelp reviews were written about the bar, and Sandoval even stepped away as a partner for a short time.
Schwartz Gives an Update on His Friendship With Sandoval
GettyDespite the Bravo stars’ bar closing, their friendship remains intact. Appearing on the “Chicks in the Office” podcast in April, Schwartz gave a positive update on his relationship status with Sandoval.
“I will always love Tom, like he was the first person I met in Los Angeles. We’ve been in the trenches together, and so many good times. So many highs, so many lows, and he’s family. I will always love Tom Sandoval,” he shared.
According to Daily Dish, the men even reunited in January for a Foo Fighters concert. Sandoval’s girlfriend, Victoria Lee Robinson, shared photos on Instagram Stories showing the two friends enjoying the show and later posted a snapshot of them hanging out at a bar afterwards. She captioned the moment, “Drunkie brothers nightcap.”
