Tom Schwartz Addresses Rumors His Bar With Tom Sandoval Is Closing

BRAVOCON -- Cocktails at Schwartz & Sandys from the Javits Center in New York City on Sunday, October 16, 2022 -- Pictured: Tom Schwartz -- (Photo by: Monica Schipper/Bravo via Getty Images)

Tom Schwartz says the future of the bar he shares with Tom Sandoval, Schwartz & Sandy's in Los Angeles, is bright – for now.

The Vanderpump Rules star, 41, is addressing rumors that began to pop up on Reddit and other platforms from apparent customers who stopped by and said it was near closing.

"It feels really good to be able to tell you this with complete transparency and honesty that we're not going to close," Schwartz exclusively tells Parade. "I mean, listen, you never know a year from now, but right now we have a synergy and a momentum we haven't had in a long time. We have an awesome staff and back of the house, front of the house. Something feels different. We have some magic going again."

He continues, "We just installed a new sound system, so we're finally implementing our music program, DJs. We're going to have some cool, little musical acts. We're going to change some of the decor, new food, new drinks, but it's like a Schwarz & Sandy's Resuscitation 2.0, a resurgence, and it feels good. Last night I was in there, it was such a great vibe. I don't know, it just felt right. It felt good again for the first time in a long time."

The bar got hit with a lot of criticism and public outcry due to the fallout of "Scandoval" over the last year when his business partner, Sandoval, 40, had an affair with Rachel (formerly Raquel) Leviss, a close friend of his longtime girlfriend Ariana Madix.

"I was bitter about it for a while, but we just were persevering, we're powering through," Schwartz tells Parade about the backlash. "There were times that almost broke me, for sure. That place, it really almost broke me. Opening a bar is no f--king joke, especially when you're on hook for shortfalls and stuff like that. It got dark for a while. People were so ruthless and unrelenting and toxic. It got scary for a while, but I'm glad to say that's the thing of the past."

He added, "Now everyone that's coming in is so brimming with positivity, leaving great reviews, pulling me aside, telling me they love the place because it is a f--king cool bar. If you haven't been there, it is a vibe. I'm not saying it's undeniable, but you can't say we didn't swing for the fences. We really went for it. And I think it's beautiful, and I hopefully we're just getting started, but tough time to be a restaurateur, a bar owner."

As for TomTom, the West Hollywood bar he opened alongside Sandoval and Lisa Vanderpump, Schwartz says things are great: "I think people also remember that we're minority stakeholders in TomTom, and they know how much time, energy, and money we invested [in Schwartz & Sandy's]. "I think some reactive, petty viewers knew that they could hurt us by applying pressure to that place."

Vanderpump Rules airs on Bravo Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.