Katie Maloney and Ariana Madix Admit They Have "Salary" Issues with Chef Penny
Ariana emphasized that she and Katie are “the two sole owners" of their sandwich shop: "This isn't, like, the three of us as 'The Three Musketeers.'"
Hold the mayo — and the chef/consultant.
Vanderpump Rules’ Katie Maloney and Ariana Madix now admit to having “salary” issues with chef/consultant Penny Davidi, who’s no longer connected to their sandwich shop Something About Her.
The new revelation helps illuminate what’s behind the severed business arrangement at the long-delayed West Hollywood eatery Katie recently said will open “very, very soon.”
In a preview for Vanderpump Rules Season 11, Episode 14, Lisa Vanderpump visited the still-in-the-works shop, where Katie and Ariana pointed out to her that Penny was “to be paid a salary and … a percentage” and that Something About Her was never going to be a "Three Musketeers" deal.
Katie Maloney and Ariana Madix's Salary Issues with Chef Penny at Something About Her
Penny has been seen throughout Season 11 of Vanderpump Rules helping Katie and Ariana make “nuts and bolts” staffing and menu decisions.
But on April 19, Katie appeared on Popping Off With Teddi Mellencamp and Emily Simpson and revealed that Penny was out of the picture at the sandwich shop.
“Ultimately it wasn't the right fit," she said.
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But now compensation arrangements also appear to have factored into the decision to part ways with Penny.
When Lisa arrived at the shop, she told Katie and Ariana that she was aware that they cut off communications with Penny.
“You guys aren’t speaking to her," she noted.
“There’s a lot of missing pieces,” replied Ariana.
She and Katie clarified that they were “the two sole owners of this business": This isn't, like, the three of us as 'The Three Musketeers.'”
Lisa appeared a bit taken aback by Penny’s proposed limited role, saying, “Oh, she's not going to be a partner?”
Katie then outlined the plan that had been in the works with Penny.
“She proposed she would like to be paid a salary and then, like, a percentage that she would want,” she said. “So we sent that to our lawyer.”
Ariana echoed Katie’s explanation about Penny: “She receives a salary and then we offered, on the back end, 10% of profits from this location. That's a great deal.”
Lisa didn’t disagree, and said that she recalled Penny saying that “she’d be OK with that.”
But business deals change quicker than customers going from wanting a Greek salad sandwich to a croissant (both are on the planned menu).
“But now she’s saying she’s not,” explained Ariana.
Katie revealed that they “originally had brought Penny on to be our COO and head of back of house. But we are having a little trouble seeing eye to eye on what her role will be in our business.”
“Do you want to part ways?” asked the ever-intuitive Lisa, who later expressed concerns that the shop “will just never open” without Penny.
“That's kind of what we're trying to figure out right now,” said Ariana — and now we know how that worked out.
Learn more about Something About Her on Vanderpump Rules, airing Tuesday at 8/7c on Bravo.
