News/Commentary

Vance denied entry at Primanti Bros in Pennsylvania, iconic chain’s cleanup disputed

September 29, 2024 | | Print Article

A campaign stop at a Pittsburgh staple found Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance exuding “grace and class” despite reports of barred entry by the same chain that hosted the vice president.

Saturday barnstorming in Pennsylvania found the Republican nominee for vice president setting his sights on some pastrami while greeting supporters. However, a stop at a Primanti Bros. location in North Versailles did not go as planned when the manager refused to allow a campaign event with alleged threats to call the police.

Undeterred by the cold reception, Vance appeared to have no trouble delighting the supporters who had gathered as he took photos with a line of customers pouring out of the restaurant, some of which were said to have cancelled their orders over the treatment of the senator.

Providing video from the scene, Anissa Zappala detailed, “@primantibros refused to let @JDVance in to their restaurant full of customers waiting to greet him. They all paid for their drinks, cancelled their food orders and left after hearing that VP candidate was not welcome.”

The caption included a clip of the Ohio lawmaker prior to his departure where he encouraged supporters not to turn on the establishment despite the lack of welcome Saturday.

“We paid for everybody’s food, we gave ’em a nice tip and of course when I gave ’em a nice tip I said, ‘No taxes on tips,'” said Vance to cheers. “It’s alright. Don’t hold it against her, she just got a little nervous. But it’s a great local business, let’s keep on supportin’ it. And most importantly, Nov. 5 or before, go vote. Let’s go win this thing.”

As reporter Salena Zito noted, “@JDVance handled this hiccup with grace and class.”

In their own statement about the incident, the restaurant claimed in part, “Without any advance notice, today’s campaign stop caused some momentary confusion for our staff. However, Senator Vance and his team were welcomed into our restaurant shortly after and engaged with our guests inside and on the property.”

“Senator Vance’s supportive comments that our manager got a little nervous given the Secret Service, police and crowd accurately reflect the nature of what occurred, and we are glad that it was resolved quickly,” the statement went on.

However, Allegheny County Councilman At-Large and GOP Chair Sam DeMarco suggested the local chain wasn’t being forthright as he wrote, “While Senator Vance was extremely gracious today about being denied entry to Primanti’s today, this statement is NOT accurate. Senator Vance was denied entry and he and his team were NOT welcomed into the restaurant after the initial ‘confusion.’ Perhaps Primanti’s isn’t being told the truth by their Manager who threatened to call the police if he entered.”

“Senator Vance spoke with and took photos with patrons outside in the parking lot but there were no interactions inside other than him going in to pay for everyone’s food,” added DeMarco. “I wouldn’t otherwise comment further on this but the false statement requires correcting it. I was told staff had contacted the restaurant prior and as a matter of fact, a sandwich was ordered for the Senator which was sitting at a seat for him just prior to the motorcades arrival.”

Meanwhile, in August it had been reported that a Primanti Bros. location in Moon Township, Pennsylvania had booted regular customers out for a private event wherein “paid actors” were brought in for the photo op with Harris.

Despite the senator’s urging, supporters couldn’t help but draw a contrast between the bolstered “facade” staged at Primanti Bros. for Harris and the slight against GOP voters as reactions poured in to the effect, “Americans have had enough of the lies and discrimination. Shut this sh*t down.”

Kevin Haggerty
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