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Tom Sandoval has a lot on the line right now.
As his restaurant, Schwartz & Sandy’s, which he owns with his co-star and best friend, Tom Schwartz, continues to suffer a slump in revenue stemming from the backlash he’s received from his shocking affair with Raquel Leviss, Sandoval is revealing where he stands financially with his parents, who invested a quarter of a million dollars into the duo’s fledgling business.
In earlier episodes of Vanderpump Rules’ season 10, Sandoval revealed that his mom and stepfather invested $250,000 into Schwartz and Sandy’s amid the restaurant’s struggles to open. Between not being able to decide on a menu to staffing woes, Sandoval and Schwartz were feeling the pressure from all sides to get the restaurant up and running.
“We planned this friends and family party at Schwartz & Sandy’s like months ago, thinking that we would be open,” Sandoval explained in an interview at the time. “I know the smart thing to do would be to save the money, [and] use that towards getting open. But my mom, my stepdad, they invested a quarter of a million dollars into this business venture, I mean, into me. So, we’re doing it.”
So, has Sandoval paid his Mom and stepdad back? Not quite.
During part one of Peacock’s “Pumped Up” version of the Vanderpump Rules season 10 reunion, host Andy Cohen point blank asked Sandoval if he has been able to repay the loan.
“No,” Sandoval responded. But he quickly added, “She’s OK, though. She wouldn’t give me that if it was like… ” Andy finished his sentence for him, saying, “If it was do or die.”
Schwartz interjected and admitted that “revenue” at Schwartz and Sandy’s was “down a little bit” due to the “boycott” currently plaguing the establishment amid “Scandoval.”
“I’ll pay her back at some point, eventually, for sure no matter what, whether it’s with that business or not,” Sandoval asserted.
Schwartz echoed his sentiments, saying, “Getting [Sandoval’s mom’s] money back, their money back, is more important to me than getting my money back.”
Though Schwartz & Sandy’s may be in a bit of a financial slump, despite a rocky start and initially struggling to sell seats, Sandoval’s tour with his cover band, Tom Sandoval and the Most Extras, has been selling out their latest shows.
Per TMZ, their Connecticut show sold out the 350-seat Wolf Den venue at the Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort, as well as The Gramercy Theater in NYC. The band even held a fundraiser show, raising $10,000 for the organization Drew Strikes Back, which aims to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
While on tour, Sandoval revealed that he is celebrating a milestone in his sobriety journey. He told the outlet that he is 50 days sober and added, “[I’ve been in] some really dark places at times and music has really helped me get through it.”
Part two of the Vanderpump Rules season 10 reunion airs Wednesday, May 31, at 9 p.m. EST on Bravo.