Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval realized how difficult it was for them to launch their new bar Schwartz and Sandy’s.
Speaking to DailyMail.com at the opening of their establishment on Tuesday, Schwartz, 39, admitted that the grueling venture put their friendship to the test.
“We sat down before we started this venture and we’re like ‘this is going to test our friendship’. And it did. Nothing would ever come between us, but frankly it was tense. I think at one point it was stretched so thin that it became transparent. [laughs] That’s a quote from a book. It got us through the goddamn gauntlet.”
‘It put us through the f**king gauntlet’: Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval realized how difficult it was for them to launch their new bar, Schwartz and Sandy’s
‘Yes, it did. Everyone has their own way of dealing with stress and frustration. I feel like the best thing about it is that we actually leaned on each other even more. Being in the trenches with someone, like you’re actually in the trenches, putting everything on the line. You really get to know someone,” Sandoval added.
“Literally blood sweat and tears,” Schwartz said. Sandoval then showed his fingers, which were cut and bleeding on his suit. Fortunately, he was able to get the stain out.
Now the duo takes it all in.
“I feel enchanted,” Schwartz told DailyMail.com. “I’m in a state of mini-shock, not to be melodramatic. Because we’ve just been working on it for so long.’
‘Literally blood sweat and tears’: Schwartz said of the work they put into the endeavor
Raising the bar! The duo beamed with pride on the opening night of their new establishment
yum! Drinks flowed through the night?
Taking it all in: “I feel mesmerized,” Schwartz told DailyMail.com. “I’m in a state of mini-shock, not to be melodramatic. Because we’ve been working on it for just so long’
“We loved learning the hard way with this one. This has been a full collaboration. One of the biggest and most difficult parts is that you have to rely on other people and wait there, as if our booths were this late — about seven months late,” Sandoval admitted.
The dynamic duo certainly put in a lot of work, from the design to the food and drinks.
The Toms were very involved with the menu.
Schwartz’s favorite drink on the menu is an old-fashioned banana, and he made the banana syrup himself. He even juiced all the cucumbers for their Fresh Start cocktail.
Hands-on approach: the dynamic duo certainly put in a lot of work, from the design to the food and drinks
Sandoval, on the other hand, made the pistachio syrup for their espresso cocktail shots.
“I want people to be able to escape and relax and settle in. Go on a first date, meet friends — meet new friends, make some friends,” Sandoval said.
Schwartz also expressed his appreciation for the neighborhood where they have settled.
“We know this is a very sacred, special neighborhood. I like Franklin Village, it’s a cocktail lounge in the neighborhood, but it’s also a destination, you know? And it’s like when I first moved to LA, I fell in love with West Hollywood, first I fell in love with this man [Sandoval]. And the second place I fell in love with was Franklin f**king Village and now we’re opening a bar here. We have a bar, West Hollywood. I mean, the rest of my life is a mess, honestly.’
‘A long time’: Sandoval’s girlfriend Ariana Madix also weighed in on how hard it was for them to launch the bar
Girls Night! Madix posed with fellow Vanderpump friend Katie Maloney
Sandoval’s friend Ariana Madix also weighed in on how difficult it was for them to launch the bar.
“I feel like I have to be very careful not to take on too much stress because I tend to do that. I have to draw the line. I’m taking it emotionally,” she told DailyMail.com.
“I’m so happy and I’m so happy for them because it’s just been a long time that they’ve worked so hard. Even if there were delays, that mental burden you carry with you [stays.] So I’m excited that they can kind of see the fruits of their labor.”
She also shared what fans can expect from season 10 of Vanderpump Rules.
Preview! Scheana Shay also said fans should expect a ‘different dynamic’ in their relationships in Season 10
Music Maker! Meanwhile, music for the evening was provided by Vanderpump favorite DJ James Kennedy
“What I can say is that it feels very different. It clearly feels nice and fresh. There are so many things that I think – even behind the scenes – are slightly different. And also, with people like Schwartz and Katie who I only really knew as a couple – and James and Raquel – they’re in such different places than they were even a year ago,” she said.
Scheana Shay also said fans should expect a “different dynamic” in their relationships in Season 10.
“I think you’ll see a different dynamic in relationships. As many of us have gotten so much closer over the past year and even since the reunion. So I think you’ll see a different dynamic,” she told DailyMail.com.
In tune! Kennedy pictured behind the DJ booth
Live it out! Guests celebrated the launch of the newest bar at Franklin Village
Beautiful: velvet chairs and colorful wallpaper added to the magical atmosphere
“We know this is a very sacred, special neighborhood. I love Franklin Village, it’s a cocktail lounge nearby, but it’s also a destination, you know?’ Schwartz said about the area
She also discussed her newly restored relationship with Lala Kent. Their friendship was broken after Lala scolded Scheana’s fiancé Brock Davies about his past.
But now they are in a much better place.
“I feel like we’ve finally figured out how to communicate with each other, and we’re in a really good place. Our kids were together on the 4th of July and it was so much fun,” she said.
Scheana also said that Lala now sees Brock for who he is: “I think she’s seen the great man he is and they’ve come a lot closer.”
Meanwhile, the music for the evening was provided by Vanderpump’s favorite DJ James Kennedy.
Kennedy also performed at the opening of Tom Tom in 2018, but had to DJ in addition to packets of toilet paper.
‘TomTom’s grand opening, they didn’t have a DJ booth for me at all. This one is still a bit small for my taste, but above [at TomTom] I was DJing in the manager’s office. I had to be on 18 packs of Charmin Ultra,” he explained.
Still, James is incredibly happy with his friends’ success.
“I’m one of the guys closest to them, you know, outside their work bubble. I’m just so happy for both of them. The only thing Tom talked about for the past two years was this bar. So I’m a little excited to talk about something else.”