A well-known Pittsburgh sandwich shop is now facing calls for a boycott after it kicked vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance out of its doors.
On Saturday afternoon, Senator Vance attempted to make a campaign stop at Primanti Bros in North Versailles, but was turned away by staff who said they had not been notified in advance.
Store bosses did so even when several paying customers inside the store asked that Vance be allowed inside so they could chat with him.
A restaurant worker informed the press that cameras were not allowed inside and that they did not want a ‘campaign event’.
After being denied entry, Vance allegedly ended up talking to people in the parking lot outside.
On Saturday afternoon, Senator Vance attempted to make a campaign stop at the beloved sandwich shop in North Versailles, but was turned away by staff who said they had not been notified in advance.
Primanti Bros, a historic Pittsburgh restaurant, is now facing calls for a boycott after it turned its doors away from vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance.
But Vance supporters who packed Primanti Bros were furious at the way the restaurant had treated the vice presidential candidate.
Footage taken inside the 90-year-old business showed many of Vance’s supporters apparently calling for a boycott.
In one video, a woman said a manager had told the senator and his team that “they would call the police if (Vance) got out (of his car).”
“The kitchen staff is running out because everyone is canceling their orders,” he said.
The video showed frustrated fans standing with their arms crossed.
“We just pay for what we drink and then everyone leaves,” the woman said.
“Unfortunately, Vance can’t get out of his car, he can’t shake our hands because Primanti Brothers doesn’t want him here.”
Vance supporters can then be seen milling around the doors of the restaurant, eager to leave.
Another Vance supporter filmed herself leaving the sandwich shop because of the way she treated the vice presidential candidate.
Another Vance supporter filmed herself leaving the sandwich shop because of the way she treated the vice presidential candidate.
“So we’re here at Primanti Brothers… to see JD Vance and Promantis hates money,” he shouted.
The furious Vance supporter then said the restaurant lost about “two thousand dollars in money because they said if Vance gets out of the vehicle he’s in…then they’ll call the police.”
In a statement posted on social media, Primanti Bros said the situation was subsequently resolved.
“Without warning, today’s campaign stop caused momentary confusion among our staff,” they wrote.
“However, Senator Vance and his team were welcomed into our restaurant shortly thereafter and engaged with our guests inside and on the property.”
Before leaving, Vance addressed his supporters in the parking lot and made it clear that he held no ill will toward the sandwich shop.
In a statement posted on social media, Primanti Bros said the situation was subsequently resolved.
“The manager got a little scared because there were so many people and she didn’t want her restaurant to be part of a campaign stop,” Vance said.
‘We went in there. We pay for everyone’s food. We tipped them well,” he said, before adding, “And of course, when I tipped them well I said ‘no tax on top of it.’
Vance then attempted to appease his outraged supporters.
‘Alright. Don’t hold a grudge against her. She just got a little nervous.
‘But it’s a big local business. Keep supporting him. And most importantly, on November 5th go vote. We’re going to win this.’