Tom Schwartz, star of ‘Vanderpump Rules’, reveals that ‘Scandoval’ almost closed Schwartz & Sandy’s

Tom Schwartz, one of the stars of the hit reality show “Vanderpump Rules,” is opening up about the tumultuous year he’s had. In an exclusive interview with Entrepreneur, Schwartz reflects on the scandal that rocked his business and personal life.

The drama unfolded in March 2023 when a romantic affair between his castmates Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss was exposed on camera, leading to a pop culture phenomenon dubbed “Scandoval.” The fallout from the scandal resulted in Schwartz & Sandy’s, the bar he co-owned with Sandoval, being publicly canceled.

Despite the setback, Season 10 of “Vanderpump Rules” became the most-watched cable series in 2023 among the 18-49 demographic, with the season finale breaking records for Bravo. However, Schwartz reveals that during the scandal, the bar saw a drastic decline in business, with some nights only attracting five customers, two of whom were Schwartz and Sandoval.

The negative publicity and online backlash took a toll on Schwartz, who admits to considering rebranding or shutting down the bar. The situation escalated to the point where death threats were received, forcing the bar to temporarily close for safety reasons.

However, Schwartz and his business partner, Greg Morris, persevered through the turmoil. They adjusted their expectations, reduced operational costs, and focused on rebuilding their business one customer at a time. Now, they are seeing signs of recovery and are optimistic about the future.

Looking ahead, Schwartz and Morris are working on new food and drink offerings, a music program, and a “Vandercrawl” tour that will connect all the “Vanderpump Rules” establishments. Despite the challenges they faced, Schwartz and Morris are determined to turn their business around and capitalize on the second chance they’ve been given.