October 15, 2020 • bachelor insider
'Vanderpump Rules' Stars Tom Sandoval & Tom Schwartz Discuss How They're Coping with Quarantine
When stay-at-home orders went into effect in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, daily life as we knew it got turned upside down. Restaurants closed or became takeout only, large gatherings were prohibited, and so on. The hospitality industry has been forced to reshape itself and adjust to new protocols and regulations, and two new bar owners are opening up about their own experiences.
Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz own TomTom Bar in Los Angeles and rose to fame on the hit reality TV show "Vanderpump Rules." The Toms joined Tayshia Adams, Hannah Ann Sluss, and Joe Amabile on a new episode of "Click Bait with Bachelor Nation" and chatted with the hosts about how they’ve been coping these last six months.
Schwartz called these times "unprecedented" and said, "I know a lot of local spots have gone out of business permanently. All around Los Angeles, people are struggling. It’s rough. People are evolving, people are adapting. A lot of places are starting to build outdoor seating with picnic tables. They’re finding ways to survive and thrive. It sucked overall."
Sandoval said opening TomTom Bar was "the happiest day of my life" and an overall "exciting" experience.
Joe asked what it was like "going from partying and going out and owning a bar to being at home" and how they adjusted.
Sandoval responded, "Obviously, now we’re in a different place than six months ago. Six months ago we’re like, 'If I go outside, am I going to get it immediately?' Everyone is in apocalypse mood. Nobody is seeing anybody whatsoever. What I would do is I work out, I do whatever around the house, then I would just get ready and go to the gas station."
He explained that getting ready and driving around helped him cope.
Sandoval also said he never wants to shake hands with anyone again. He explained that when people come to the bar, they would shake his hand upon introduction, when they ask for a photo, and then after the photo.
Sandoval explained that by this time in the year, he "would’ve gotten sick twice. I would’ve gotten sick after Coachella, and then again after Life Is Beautiful."
He added, "I have not been sick once this year. I get tested almost every week, but that’s one thing that I’m not going back to. I’m not shaking anybody’s hand anymore."
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Schwartz, on the other hand, admitted he’s "yearning for human contact."
He said on the podcast, "That was one of my favorite things. I’m not a smothering hugger, but I am a hugger... I miss embracing other human beings and indulging getting lost in those moments. Now I’m going to have to be more neurotic."
To hear what else the Toms have to say about their bar, life during quarantine, as well as other funny stories, be sure to listen to the full "Click Bait with Bachelor Nation" episode now!
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