Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz are addressing the impact “Scandoval” had on their bar, Schwartz & Sandy’s.
While offering an update on how business is doing now, months after Sandoval’s months-long affair with Rachel “Raquel” Leviss, 29, was uncovered, and admitting to thinking the scandal could shut them down, Sandoval, 41, and Schwartz, 40, reflected on their ups and downs as Schwartz explained how they mended their friendship and Sandoval compared himself to Jax Taylor, 44, who was caught cheating on now-wife Brittany Cartwright, 44, on Vanderpump Rules years ago.
“Being that Schwartz and I are the main two business owners, it definitely took a lot of the backlash from the ‘Scandoval’ of it all,” Sandoval told The Messenger at the season 11 premiere party last week. “But it’s coming back. We’re doing better.”
“I’m proud of what we created, I really am,” noted Schwartz. “We put our heart and soul in that place, and for a moment there, I thought it was over. But we’re getting ready to revamp, new drinks, new food, new music program… I’m so grateful for everyone who has been coming in lately, because what I’ve experienced on the internet and what I’ve experienced face to face at TomTom and Schwartz and Sandy’s is day and night, and the juxtaposition is crazy. But I just experienced such an outpouring of love and compassion, with constructive criticism. Don’t get me wrong – I’m still getting roasted, but it’s with a hug.”
According to Schwartz, owning a bar has made him “grow up real quick.”
“If you have any sort of lingering Peter Pan syndrome, just open a bar and you will be snapped back into reality real quick,” he explained.
As for his friendship with Sandoval, which suffered after his affair with Raquel — and Schwartz’s knowledge of it — was revealed last March, Schwartz confirmed he and Sandoval “put a lot of work into our friendship.”
“We’ve had a lot of healthy, constructive, productive conversations, and he’s taken full accountability and apologized in many shapes and forms,” Schwartz stated. “I think we’ve both learned a lesson.”
As they get back to business as usual, Schwartz said he’s hoping for a potential name change.
“I’m still not crazy about the name. I’ll say it!” he confessed. “That’s the biggest fight me and Tom have ever been in. The name of that f*cking [Schwartz and Sandy’s].”
During another interview with The Messenger, Sandoval confirmed season 11 would “definitely” be the hardest season to watch and explained how he relates to Jax.
“I never understood why Jax [was] like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to watch the show,’” Sandoval shared. “I know he’s gone through it on the show, obviously having to deal with the fallout of his actions — just like myself now — and it’s tough. It’s hard to see it.”
“[I’m] just looking forward to moving forward,” he continued, noting that he’s been focused on his podcast, his band, and his mental health.
“Basically, I just started spending time alone — being OK with being alone, being OK with just sitting in my feelings,” he explained. “I worked on myself. I just focused on trying to stay busy and trying to work on the things that I can actually change. I can’t force people to change their minds about me. All I can do is stay busy and try to better myself and live better.”
Vanderpump Rules season 11 premieres on Tuesday, January 30, at 8/7c on Bravo.
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