Vanderpump Rules stars Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval announced they are closing down their Los Angeles lounge Schwartz & Sandy’s after two years.
The longtime co-stars both announced the news Monday (Nov. 25). The lounge and bar will close at the end of the year and is currently booking events through the next few weeks.
In a statement on Instagram, Sandoval said, “This hasn’t been an easy choice for my partners and me, but other priorities and commitments have taken holds. While the business venture has been an incredible stepping stone in my life, one I will always cherish, I look forward to exciting new endeavors.”
Speaking to People, Sandoval said the business venture was an “amazing learning experience” and maintained that the decision to close was “made as a team.”
Schwartz candidly reflected on their time co-owning the bar together since it opened in 2022 in a new interview with People.
“Tom [Sandoval] and I made a lot of rookie mistakes in the beginning but persevered,” he admitted.
He also confessed that the bad press surrounding Sandoval cheating on his longtime girlfriend and co-star Ariana Madix in 2023 made a definitive impact on the business.
“It’s already a tough business, and the damage from relentless negative press over the last year made it even harder,” Schwartz said “It was difficult not to feel resentful and bitter, but eventually, we had to let it go — no more replaying what went wrong.”
The VPR star later added, “Tom and I learned the hard way about the pitfalls of having your name on the building. It comes with immense responsibility, and your personal life directly reflects on your business and your partners. It’s a double-edged sword for a public figure.”
The Bravolebrities reportedly sank at least a million dollars into the project when it was opening in 2022.
Sandoval admitted as much during a confessional in the Season 10 premiere which showed them struggling to get the bar ready in time for opening night. “At this point, we have invested a million dollars into this project,” Sandoval said in the episode, per The Daily Mail. “It’s like the national debt, it’s just numbers flying.”
The pair still co-own TomTom with Lisa Vanderpump. But Sandoval maintains that he’s “very optimistic about what the future holds.”
As for their television careers, Sandoval is set to star in The Traitors Season 3 while filming for Vanderpump Rules Season 12 remains on pause.
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