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Credit: Jordan Strauss/Bravo
Katie Maloney and Ariana Madix have cut ties with the former chef of their sandwich shop, Something About Her.
While appearing on Teddy Mellencamp42, and Emily Simpson‘s podcast last week, the 37-year-old Vanderpump Rules star revealed she and Ariana, 38, are no longer working with chef Penny Davidi as an insider confirmed their new restaurant is set to open its doors next month.
“We’re not working with Penny any longer,” Katie shared on the April 19 episode of Popping Off with Teddi Mellencamp and Emily Simpsonvia Bravo’s The Daily Dishnoting that she “can’t” get into the details about what led them to part ways.
“We loved working with Penny, and Penny was great, but ultimately it wasn’t the right fit,” Katie said.
As Pump Rules fans will recall, Penny, who has also worked at the now-shuttered PUMP Lounge and TomTom, has been seen working alongside Katie and Ariana on season 11, helping them find employees for their business and aiding in the decision-making for their menu.
“Penny’s really working on, like, the nuts and bolts, of the restaurant,” Ariana said during one particular episode.
Katie also told Teddi and Emily, 48, on their podcast that she and Ariana were in the “home stretch” for opening Something About Her — and that they have “everything” they need to open its doors.
Meanwhile, according to a separate report from The U.S. Sunan opening date has been set nearly three years after they filed for their LLC. As the outlet stated, a series of soft openings will reportedly lead up to a grand opening on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, followed by a “big WeHo Pride party,” during WeHo Pride Weekend, which runs from Friday, May 31 through Sunday, June 2.
“The inside of the shop is ready to go. Everything is still in place as it has been teased on the show,” a source confirmed.
As for the outside seating area, the insider said the venue is still lacking a sign and has no patio space, potentially due to a pending permit for a 20-square-foot outdoor dining area they filed in January, which mentioned a new awning and sign.
“The shop is going to add tables to the side alleyway and a custom bench right in front of the store,” they explained.
In an April 23 photo, three outdoor chairs with blue and white patterned cushions were seen, which the source said was a “waiting area” for potential employees being interviewed.
“The owners are interviewing people for various positions at the moment,” the source added.
While some have wondered if Penny was the reason it was taking so long for Something About Her to open, due to the trademark being in her company’s name, Put a Fork in It LLC., her husband and the attorney on the trademark, Jonathan Lee Borsuksaid that was not the case.
The application “is not holding up the opening of the restaurant,” he confirmed. “There were conversations about several logistical steps to getting the restaurant open and the brand protected. Penny had said, ‘Look, one of the things that we should do as a partnership is establish trademark protection,’ Katie and Ariana said, ‘Yeah, that would be great if you do that.’ And Penny said, ‘Yeah, I can have my husband obtain the trademark so that it’s protected.’ And so that’s what she did.”
The trademark application for Something About Her was submitted in August 2023 and is currently pending.
“Penny remains a supporter of the restaurant and would love to help in any way that she can for the restaurant to open at the earliest possible time and then for it to be successful,” Jonathan added.
Vanderpump Rules season 11 airs Tuesdays on Bravo at 8/7c.