Tom Schwartz Opens Up About Losing His Shared Bar With Tom Sandoval

While speaking about the decision ahead of his appearance in season 2 of “The Valley,” Tom Schwartz opened up about what he learned during that process. He also touched on his friendship with Sandoval and admitted they’re not in the same place they once were.

During the “The Valley” after-show, Schwartz admitted that losing his bar with Sandoval “put a lot of tension on our friendship.”

Schwartz & Sandys officially closed its doors in December 2024 after two years of operation. They first opened in November 2022, just a few months before Sandoval’s salacious affair with Raquel Leviss would break the internet.

In their statement about the closing, the “VPR” reality stars cited financial pressures, among other things.

According to Schwartz, dealing with money really challenged them as friends.

“The financial aspect really put our friendship to the test. Unfortunately, it almost destroyed our friendship at one point. But I have closure,” he said.

Even though they had to close the bars’ doors, Schwartz, who has been best friends with Sandoval for years, admitted they will always be close.

“He’s family for me,” the 42-year-old said. “I will always love Tom Sandoval, but of course, I have some deep-rooted frustrations still. But not holding onto that sh-t.”

Schwartz went on to say that even though things didn’t turn out the way he planned, he still takes great pride in what he built.

“I’m at least proud to say that I can walk away knowing that I put everything I had into that place,” he noted. “Almost all of my money. Lord knows I over-leveraged myself. I feel like we really never were fully accepted or embraced by the neighborhood, but I’m f-cking proud of that place.”

Schwartz, who still co-owns TomTom, confessed he feels much lighter not having to worry so much about a business that was clearly struggling.

“I have a newfound sense of peace that I haven’t felt in a long time,” Schwartz said. “It was like perpetual, constant anxiety—when you’re hemorrhaging money. And you know that this place with your name on the side of the building is not doing as well. Your employees are suffering now. They can’t pay their bills. It’s just a lot.”

He also explained that that experience had toughened him up a bit, adding, “I feel like I have so much more life experience.”

He continued, “I have more grit. I feel like I have just a newfound respect and appreciation for life. I just feel like I’m growing in so many ways. I don’t know if it shows through my actions, but I can feel it.”

During a previous interview, Schwartz opened up about his position with his former “Vanderpump Rules” castmates and revealed that he’s closer to everybody else than he is to Sandoval.

“I see Scheana and [her husband] a lot,” he said before saying he also interacts with “Lala [Kent] a lot.”

He also said he spends more time with the show’s OG villain, Jax Taylor, than anybody.

“Yeah, I see Jax [Taylor] a lot; he’s my neighbor now,” he said.

Prior to closing his bar, the reality star explained that their group of friends had been fractured following the news of Sandoval’s seven-month affair.

“Everyone’s taking a little time to just recalibrate [and] enjoy their peace and time apart,” he said. “I think there’s still a lot of love and respect amongst the castmates, but regardless of what happens in the future, I think we needed a little break.”

Before their break as a group, Sandoval’s ex-girlfriend, Ariana Madix, confronted Schwartz for his alleged role in covering up his friend’s deceptive behavior.

In the season 10 finale, Madix told Schwartz she wouldn’t be friends with anyone who was also friends with her ex.

“I don’t think you are a [co-conspirator], but I will not have mutual friends with him. So I am not your friend anymore,” she told him.

On “Watch What Happens Live,” Madix kept the same energy, blasting Schwartz for seemingly hiding Sandoval’s behavior.

“I don’t think it was just covering,” she told Andy Cohen. “I think it was actively participating in my downfall.”