PATI-OH NO! Vanderpump Rules bar TomTom suffers ‘big loss’ as Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz forced to drop $50k on construction
VANDERPUMP Rules bar TomTom has suffered a ‘big loss’ as the West Hollywood lounge was forced to drop around $50k on construction,
Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz’s Los Angeles hotspot recently underwent a major renovation – which led some fans to believe the space was being completely rebranded to Lisa Vanderpump’s former restaurant, Pump.
In late 2023, shortly after Pump closed for good, the sign for Lisa’s establishment was proudly posted outside of TomTom – leaving bar-goers confused if the two businesses were merging.
The confusion only heightened after major construction was seen taking place outside of TomTom in early March as fans wondered if the TomTom brand was done for good.
However, the construction project had “nothing to do with a rebrand” and was solely to reconfigure the front patio after new zoning laws in the City of West Hollywood
Back in late 2024, West Hollywood notified business owners that the outdoor spaces they were able to increase during the pandemic must now be downsized once again.
The order is to increase the amount of sidewalk space in the heavy-walking district and applied to all bars and restaurants in the area.
Most of TomTom’s neighbors complied weeks ago however, the Vanderpump Rules eatery finally made the changes this month.
The large outdoor space, which once had enough room for nearly a dozen outdoor tables, fireplaces and bar seating, has now been reduced to just a handful of two-person high tops.
“It’s a bummer to not have as much outdoor space,” a staffer at the restaurant. Gene Hackman and wife Betsy’s $11m real estate portfolio revealed
“The indoor/outdoor California lifestyle really suited this space so it is a big loss to the restaurant but as always, we’ll adapt.
“Every place in the area had to do the same so we can’t get mad at it, just need to make the most of it.
“There was no fighting the decision as it was a city order so there’s nothing [the owners] could’ve done but it was disappointing.
“Not only is there less space to seat people, which means less money the bar is making, but it cost them a lot of money to execute,” they added.
Lisa Vanderpump ‘pushed out’ of Vanderpump Rules as producers attempt to ‘minimize’ her involvement with filming
The source added that business has been “steady” in recent months and has “actually picked up a lot this year” after a noticeable dip following the Scandoval backlash.
Business being good at TomTom is a promising sign for its reality star owners after Tom Sandoval, 42, and Tom Schwartz, 42, were forced to close the doors on their Hollywood lounge, Schwartz & Sandy’s, at the end of 2024.
‘IT COST HIM HIS MARRIAGE’
After pouring their entire life savings into the Franklin Village bar, it shuttered after just two years of operation – and was also blamed as the reason for Schwartz’s divorce from Katie Maloney.
“The Tom’s put their heart and soul into this restaurant. Schwartz especially gave it everything he had, his blood sweat and tears,” an insider
“It literally cost him his marriage, he did everything for it. He tried to host events and came in nearly every night to bring people in.
“Schwartz had a lot of ideas while Sandoval was off doing his own thing, I think Schwartz felt abandoned by him. [Sandoval] wasn’t around much and didn’t put in the same effort.
“He wouldn’t come in for months and months during [Scandoval] and even after. But I mean it’s hit them both hard.
“They both invested a ton of money and they’re devastated, absolutely gutted. They kept throwing ideas out there but it was like throwing spaghetti at the wall and nothing was sticking.
“It ended up being a money pit that they couldn’t get out of,” the source added.
Vanderpump Rules Season 11 Cast
Vanderpump Rules has returned to Bravo for one of its most explosive seasons following the fallout of Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix’s relationship.
Returning Cast Members
- Lisa Vanderpump returns as one of the original cast mates and acts as a mentor and confidant to the group.
- Ariana Madix returns hurt following her ex, Tom Sandoval, cheating on her.
- James Kennedy has been expanding his DJ career and recently moved in with his girlfriend, Ally.
- Katie Maloney is working hard to open her sandwich restaurant with Ariana as she navigates life post-divorce.
- Lala Kent has struck up an unexpected friendship with Tom Schwartz, which has caused a rift between her and the rest of the girls.
- Scheana Shay is navigating married life with Brock and a toddler as they leave the honeymoon period.
- Tom Sandoval has been attempting to work on himself and start repairing his broken relationships.
- Tom Schwartz embraces a new appearance change as he takes blows for helping his pal Tom in his affair with Ariana.
New Cast Members
- Ally Lewber is focusing on becoming an astronomer attempting to find friendships in the group after she and James embrace suburban life.
- Brock Davies has been testing out new dynamics as a family man
Schwartz & Sandy’s opened in a Franklin Village strip mall in November 2022, their first business venture separate from TomTom mentor Lisa.
During the season 10 reunion, Sandoval revealed that he spent his mom’s entire retirement savings, roughly $250,000, as an investment in Schwartz & Sandy’s.
TomTom has had a lot more success as it still continues to operate after opening in 2018.
Past seasons of Vanderpump Rules showed Lisa asking the Tom’s to be business partners on her latest project.
Although their names are on the front, the Tom’s own just 5% of the business – leaving the majority stake to Lisa, her husband Ken Todd and their other partners.
