It was supposed to be a "funkadelic" masterpiece. That was the word Tom Sandoval kept using, anyway.
Walking into the space in Franklin Village back in 2022, you could feel the desperation of the "vision." There was a starry-night ceiling that reportedly cost a fortune, velvet booths that felt a little too much like a grandmother’s parlor, and a mission statement that talked about the "déjà vu of your future fantasy." Honestly, it was a lot.
Schwartz and Sandy's wasn't just a bar; it was a three-year-long drama that played out on our TV screens before the first drink was even poured. And now, in 2026, looking back at the empty storefront at 1917 North Bronson Avenue, the whole thing feels like a fever dream that finally broke.
The Reality of the "Dream"
Let’s be real: the odds were stacked against this place from the jump. Most people think the "Scandoval" of 2023 is what killed the bar. While the boycotts and the 1-star Yelp raids definitely didn't help, the rot started way before anyone found out about the lightning bolt necklaces.
The location was weird. Franklin Village is great—it’s got that leafy, "old Hollywood" vibe with spots like La Poubelle and Birds—but putting a gaudy, high-concept reality TV bar in a strip mall next to a Gelson’s grocery store was a choice.
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Why the Concept Never Quite Clicked
The Toms wanted a "dive lounge." Think about that for a second. It's an oxymoron. A dive bar is supposed to be effortless, cheap, and a little bit gritty. A lounge is curated, expensive, and polished. By trying to be both, Schwartz and Sandy's ended up being neither.
- The Decor: It was an incohesive mess. You had tropical plants next to mid-century modern furniture, underlit by cool blue LEDs that made everyone look slightly sickly.
- The Menu: Lobster corndogs. They were famous, sure, but they were also $20+. It’s hard to build a "neighborhood spot" when the snacks cost more than a steak dinner down the street.
- The Service: On the final nights in late 2024, visitors reported waiting 20 minutes for a single Mezcal cocktail. You can't survive in LA with those times.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Closing
Everyone blames the fans. "If the VPR fans hadn't turned on Sandoval, they'd still be open," people say. I don't buy it.
The business was hemorrhaging money before it even opened. They blew the budget on custom wallpaper and light fixtures while their partner, Greg Morris—a guy who actually knows how to run a restaurant—was regularly ignored. In the end, the overhead for a space that size in that neighborhood required a level of consistent, non-tourist foot traffic they just couldn't maintain.
Once the "Vanderpump Rules" cameras stopped rolling and the initial curiosity died down, the locals didn't want to hang out in a "starry night" themed strip mall bar.
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The TomTom Comparison
Why does TomTom survive while Schwartz and Sandy's folded? It’s simple: Lisa Vanderpump.
Lisa knows that a bar needs a soul, not just a gimmick. TomTom has a clear identity (industrial Victorian) and, crucially, it's located in the heart of West Hollywood’s "Rainbow District." It gets the foot traffic. Schwartz and Sandy's was an island.
The Last Call
The bar officially served its last round on December 21, 2024. By the end, the "funky little fever dream" had become a nightmare of debt and strained friendships. Tom Schwartz even admitted to People that it was one of the hardest decisions they ever had to make, but the writing was on the wall.
If you're looking for the "Toms" experience now, you're basically limited to TomTom, where their involvement is... well, mostly for the cameras.
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Lessons for the Next "Celebrity" Business
If you’re thinking about opening a spot because you’re on a show, keep these three things in mind:
- Listen to the Pro: If you hire a partner with 20 years of experience, don't argue with them about the price of a disco ball.
- Location is Destiny: A strip mall is fine for a dry cleaner; it’s a tough sell for a "destination" lounge.
- Check Your Ego: Your name on the door brings people in once. The quality of the ice in the glass is what brings them back.
The story of Schwartz and Sandy's is a classic Los Angeles cautionary tale. It’s what happens when the "vision" is bigger than the bank account, and when fame is mistaken for business savvy.
If you’re still craving that VPR vibe, your best bet is to stick to the established spots in WeHo. The Franklin Village experiment is officially over, and honestly? It’s probably for the best.