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Something About Her Is Open! Katie & Ariana Talk Sandwiches, Challenges & What's Next
The Vanderpump Rules business partners share exclusive details on their sandwich shop, including their new chef and opening "more locations."
The doors of Something About Her sandwich shop are finally open! After years of unexpected challenges, Katie Maloney and Ariana Madix celebrated their restaurant's grand opening on May 22.
On May 21, the Vanderpump Rules business partners talked to The Daily Dish about their business journey, their friendship, and what's next for Something About Her.
"We’re both excited. I think we’re relieved to be at this point finally," Ariana said. "We’re just hoping that everybody loves it as much as we do."
Katie Maloney and Ariana Madix reflect on their journey to opening Something About Her
The path to opening the sandwich shop has included several frustrating challenges, such as permit issues and staffing changes. However, the experience has allowed Katie and Ariana to take away important lessons about running a business.
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For Katie, that includes being "adaptable and patient" and knowing "there are gonna be things you can prepare for [and] things you can’t prepare for."
"I think also being honest with yourself about what your strengths are, and being able to ask for help," she added. "And surround yourself with a team of people who might know things you don’t know and have strengths where you are weak."
Looking back on the early stages of bringing the sandwich shop to life, Ariana explained, "I’m really glad we went through a detailed planning process...before we got our location or anything."
However, because "there are so many unforeseen things you can’t plan for," Ariana is proud of the way she and Katie adapted. "I think us being able to roll with the punches, and just keep going, and keep looking ahead, and keep believing, and staying committed to it, I think that’s how we were able to get to this point," she said.
Seeing their hard work finally come to fruition is a full-circle moment, as the sandwich shop is around the corner from SUR, where Katie and Ariana spent many years working. As Katie considered that, she said with a laugh, "If you would have told me back in 2014, I would have been like, 'No way.'”
Ariana added, "The years of experience that we’ve had working in different restaurants brought us a really good perspective on being on this side of things now."
Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney talk about their friendship and working as business partners
Although, as Vanderpump Rules viewers have seen on the Season 11 reunion, there have been a few challenging moments working together, Katie and Ariana having nothing but great things to say about their personal and business dynamic.
"Something that we’ve always been aligned on is the vision, and so it’s been really cool to be in a place where I trust Katie wholeheartedly with, let's say, somebody needs an answer on something and I’m not available, Katie’s got it handled," Ariana shared. "Being able to trust and watch her take over and be in charge has been really awesome."
Katie agreed, adding, "It’s just a good friendship."
Katie and Ariana rave about Something About Her's chef, Jamie Persky
One of the "really exciting" moments recently, Ariana noted, was seeing their "awesome team and staff come in and step up to the plate" during their soft opening on May 16.
"We’ve been working with them, and hiring them, and everyone’s been training, but to see everything actually happening, that was really cool to watch," she said.
While talking about their team, Katie and Ariana raved about the eatery's chef, Jamie Persky. (Katie confirmed in April that she and Ariana had parted ways with chef Penny Davidi.)
While planning the menu, Katie noted that although she and Ariana had "wish lists" for sandwiches they wanted to make, "Jamie took them to a whole new level, honestly."
"She did an onion balsamic marmalade that is amazing," Katie added. "I was like, 'I never would have thought of that. That’s amazing.'”
Additionally, Ariana proudly declared, "[Jamie] created her own mustard."
Details on Something About Her Sandwiches
Of course, it's hard for Katie and Ariana to choose a favorite sandwich among the several they offer. "There’s a different [favorite] sandwich every time I think about it," Ariana admitted. "Right now, today, I’ve been all about the Cameron, which is our Italian...Prior to that, I was in a Diane phase, which is our tuna salad sandwich."
Katie shared, "The Reese, our chicken salad sandwich, is Jamie’s own recipe. Can’t get that anywhere else."
"Every sandwich is so good," she stated. "Even our BLT tastes like someone made that for you in their kitchen and everything about it is so yummy and scrumptious…you can eat these sandwiches every day and not get tired of them."
Are Katie and Ariana opening more Something About Her locations?
According to Katie, that's the plan. "This one, we need it to be a smashing success because we would love to have more locations," she said. "In New York, ideally, and then everywhere else in the world."
Watch the video above to see Katie and Ariana give a tour of Something About Her.
