“Due to heavy rains, we are forced to close this weekend,” reads a sign posted in the window of Pump Lounge restaurant in West Hollywood. “We do apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
The popular restaurant owned by Vanderpump Rules star Lisa Vanderpump, and her husband, longtime restaurateur, Ken Todd, sits dark and empty on the corner of Santa Monica and Robertson Boulevards during Oscar weekend.
We reported here first that Vanderpump’s two highly profiled West Hollywood restaurants, Pump Lounge, at 8948 Santa Monica Blvd., and Tom Tom Restaurant, at 8932 Santa Monica Blvd., both had their liquor licenses suspended this past Wednesday, March 8.
As of the publishing of this piece, the license details under California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) report that the Tom Tom Restaurant liquor license status is now “active” as of March 10. The restaurant, co-owned with Junior Partners Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz, is open for business this weekend and is currently serving libations with their dinner selections.
Pump Lounge on the other hand, is still listed with a suspended liquor license. ABC recently added that “operating restrictions exist” for the restaurant.
Despite the closure this weekend, the suspended liquor license, and the recent operating restrictions, Pump Restaurant posted a photo of two wine glasses yesterday. “Cheers to our favorite day of the week…#ThirstyThursday!” Read the post.
When asked if they were serving alcohol in the comments thread, @pumprestaurant replied, “…everyday that we are open.”
Instagram screen grab – @pumprestaurantThe next day, Saturday, a sign was posted in the storefront citing heavy rain as the reason for their closure this weekend.
Those affected most by the closure are the wait staff who will miss on revenue brought by various Oscar events this weekend. The annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party and fundraiser on Sunday, takes place at West Hollywood Park Located behind Pump Lounge. The event is known to attract some of Hollywood’s most elite to the city of West Hollywood, and can generate a lot of traffic to local businesses.
This is not the first time Pump Lounge has had their liquor license suspended for failing to pay fees. In March 2021, the former star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills told Page Six that she owed a small $250 filing fee to the state from 2016 amid reports that Pump Lounge would be indefinitely “suspended” due to alleged tax issues in 2021.
ABC states that it can take up to six weeks for expiration updates after a fee waiver or renewal fee is submitted. The hold on Pump Lounge is described as a B/E Collections Suspension.
She’s never been one to follow rules. I don’t know how many times she filmed in Weho without pulling a Filming Permit!