Pump Rules’ Tom Schwartz on Status of Bar, Jax & Sandoval

Credit: Bravo

Tom Schwartz revealed the fate of his bar Schwartz & Sandy’s – which he shares with (arguably) the most hated man in reality television: Tom Sandoval. He also hinted at Sandoval’s recent “breakthrough” with Jax Taylor, his former friend who, earlier this year, grabbed a pitchfork with the angry mob of Scandoval fanatics.

After Tom’s publicized affair with Raquel Leviss, railing against the Vanderpump Rules star became trendy, and some fans were actively trying to sabotage the bar.

In an interview with Hollywood Life, Schwartz addressed the fate of their business.

“It’s ok,” he said. “Yeah, [and] Tom Tom is thriving.”

According to the 40-year-old, Schwartz and Sandy’s is “resetting” but “hanging in there.”

He went on to say, “We’re in a bit of a rebirth. I hope we are. But you know, we put a lot into that place, and we’re just gonna keep on keepin’ on.”

Schwartz claimed he hasn’t spoken with Raquel in “ages,” but he hopes she’s okay. Regarding the accusation that Ariana Madix, who was dating Tom amid the affair, will be labeled the ‘villain’ next season, Schwartz said she has nothing to worry about, as she’s solidified herself as the “fan favorite.”

When asked if he would ever date a ‘reality show girl’ again, Schwartz answered, “The thing is, once you date someone in this world, you’re gonna have to end up having to dissect the relationship, and when you dissect something, you kill it.”

Regarding Jax and Sandoval’s recent reunion – in which he suggested “the band” was “back together” – Schwartz told PEOPLE that his two friends “have been on the outs for a long time … but I think people forget that Tom and Jax have been friends longer than I’ve been friends with both of them. I’m talking almost 20 years.”

He went on, “It’s like sometimes I feel like we’re a trio. We’re like brothers. Those are my Los Angeles brothers. They’re the first two people I met along with Kristen Doute. We all lived together and we were slightly dysfunctional, but we loved each other and we came up together and I have a deep bond with both of those guys.”

The star admitted, “Sometimes their dynamic, it’s love-hate — maybe more emphasis on the latter lately, but I feel like they had a little breakthrough recently. They’ve been communicating more often.”

Schwartz joked, “They kind of have John C. Reilly/Will Ferrell in Step Brothers dynamic. But I think deep down they do love each other at the end of the day. I think I can speak on behalf of them.”

“[The reunion] was really nice for me because I kind of feel like a child of divorce sometimes with those two because Jax and Tom are two of my best friends on the planet and I love them dearly,” he added. “They’re also very different people. And anyway, they’re both doing really well right now, and it was really nice to see them together. … It was just a really, really great night. It felt cozy and happy, and the holiday spirit was alive and well.”