Politics
Inside Lisa Vanderpump’s Pump reopening with strict Covid protocols & appearance by star after restaurant’s tax dispute
LISA Vanderpump’s restaurant, Pump, reopened with strict Covid protocols on St. Patrick’s Day after months of closure following a tax dispute with the state.
The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills alum arrived for dinner at the Los Angeles hotspot with her husband, Ken Todd, and a group of friends dressed in festive green, The Sun can reveal.
Lisa Vanderpump dressed up for St. Patrick’s Day on Pump’s opening day[/caption]
The RHOBH alum arrived with a group of friends on Pump’s opening Wednesday night[/caption]
The West Hollywood hotspot has been closed for months following a tax dispute[/caption]
Business was consistently busy at the Los Angeles eatery on Wednesday[/caption]
Following the restaurant’s extended closure, the West Hollywood eatery opened its doors once again on Wednesday and appeared to go to great lengths to keep things safe.
The Sun can exclusively confirm Lisa, 60, and her husband, Ken, arrived at Pump around 7pm PT in an SUV full of friends.
Wearing a large green hat, she exclaimed that she was “so excited to be home” while gushing she felt “ecstatic” to have the business open again.
Although every restaurant staffer remained extra cautious by wearing both a mask and face shield, Lisa and Ken did not wear either when they walked into the establishment.
The reality star gave massive hugs – without wearing a mask – to several employees present at the time.
Lisa wore a festive green St. Patrick’s Day hate as she arrived to Pump[/caption]
The reality star arrived at Pump without a face mask with a group of friends[/caption]
The Pump owner arrived with a group of friends and yelled she’s ‘ecstatic’ to ‘be home’[/caption]
She gave a Pump staffer a large hug the moment she arrived[/caption]
Although Lisa’s age group is now eligible to be vaccinated, masks are still required for everyone in Los Angeles county.
One staffer exclusively revealed to The Sun that “most if not all” of the Pump staffers had already been vaccinated as those in the culinary field were able to get the shot earlier this month.
“The owners are taking Covid very seriously,” the informant revealed of Lisa and Ken.
According to the employee, the restauranteurs spent “at least a few thousand” to add a large extended deck on the front sidewalk to offer more outdoor patio seating.
The fencing, new tables, plants from LA’s pricey Rolling Greens and decorations were set up just hours before Pump opened for dinner on Wednesday.
Staffers told The Sun that Pump took Covid precautions ‘very seriously’[/caption]
Business was steady throughout opening night of the garden restaurant[/caption]
The bar was open serving Lisa’s famous cocktails[/caption]
Pump already had a large garden as “90%” of its seating is outside with the interior being just a handful of tables.
During opening night, business was steady and continued to increase throughout the evening with few tables left empty.
Each server wore their traditional uniform – an unbuttoned pink Pump shirt with nothing underneath accompanied by a black skinny tie – along with both a mask and face shield.
The high end lounge that’s been heavily featured on Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules has been closed for months following a tax dispute, according to records obtained by The Sun.
Despite the restaurant’s West Hollywood neighbors re-opening last year, Pump has remained shut down throughout the pandemic.
The high end West Hollywood eatery reopened its doors Wednesday night[/caption]
The owners spent ‘at least a few thousand’ to extend the patio on the front sidewalk[/caption]
New fencing, added tables and fresh plants were set up hours before opening[/caption]
Records obtained by The Sun show Pump is listed as “suspended” from the California Franchise Tax Board.
The site states businesses’ with this standing are due to failure to file tax returns, failure to pay taxes and/or failure to pay penalties/interest.
In order for the company to get back in good standing with the state, Pump would need to file any allegedly past due tax returns and pay any alleged past due tax balances, according to the state’s website.
It’s unclear what exactly caused the California Franchise Tax Board to suspend Pump or how much money the company allegedly owes.
However, Lisa responded on Twitter and admitted her “taxes were delayed” because “everybody was working from home and [the] restaurant was closed” – though the surrounding eateries in Pump’s area reopened months ago.
Lisa has admitted to having ‘dark times’ during her financial struggles throughout the pandemic[/caption]
Lisa and her husband, Ken Todd, own multiple restaurants and businesses together[/caption]
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She added that it at least “wasn’t in Chapter 11 like 10,000 others that have closed across America.”
Lisa owns the well-known eatery that opened in May 2014 with her businessman husband.
The couple own dozens of companies together and several restaurants in West Hollywood, CA including Pump, Tom Tom, Sur and Villa Blanca – which shut its doors permanently last year.
