A historic Pittsburgh restaurant is now facing calls for a boycott after it turned vice presidential candidate Senator JD Vance away from its doors.
On Saturday afternoon, Senator Vance tried to make a campaign stop at Primanti Bros in North Versailles, but he was rebuffed by staff who said they had not been given advanced notice.
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 reportedly ended up speaking with people in the parking lot outside.
On Saturday afternoon, Senator Vance tried to make a campaign stop at the beloved sandwich shop in North Versailles, but he was rebuffed by staff who said they had not been given advanced notice
Primanti Bros, a historic Pittsburgh restaurant, is now facing calls for a boycott after it turned away vice presidential candidate Senator JD Vance away from its doors
But the Vance supporters who filled Primanti Bros were furious with the way the restaurant had treated the vice presidential candidate.
Footage taken inside the 90-year-old business showed many of Vances supporters apparently calling for a boycott.
In one video, a woman said that a manager had told the senator and his team that they would call the police if [Vance] comes out [of his car].
The woman went on to say that the vice presidential candidates had responded by cancelling their orders.
The kitchen crews running out because everyones cancelling their orders, she said.
The video showed frustrated supporters standing with their arms crossed.
Were just paying for what we drink and then everyones leaving, the woman said.
Unfortunately, Vance cannot come out of his car, cannot shake our hands because Primanti Brothers does not want him in here.
Vance supporters can then be seen swarming the restaurants doors, eager to leave.
Another Vance supporter filmed herself leaving the sandwich shop because of the way it treated the vice presidential candidate
Another Vance supporter filmed herself leaving the sandwich shop because of the way it treated the vice presidential candidate.
So we are here at Primanti Brothers...to see JD Vance and Promantis hates money, she yelled.
The irate Vance supporter then said that the restaurant lost about two grand worth of money because they said if Vance gets out of the vehicle that hes in...then they will call the police.
In a statement posted on social media, Primanti Bros said that the situation was later resolved.
Without any advance notice, todays campaign stop caused some momentary confusion for our staff, they wrote.
However, Senator Vance and his team were welcomed into our restaurant shortly after and engaged with our guests inside and on the property.
Before Vance left, he addressed his supporters in the parking lot and made it clear he bore no ill will toward the sandwich shop.
In a statement posted on social media, Primanti Bros said that the situation was later resolved
The manager just freaked out a little bit because there were a lot of people, and she didnt want to make her restaurant part of a campaign stop, Vance said.
We went in there. We paid for everybodys food. We gave them a nice tip, he said, before adding: And of course when I gave them a nice tip I said "no taxes on top."
Vance then tried to pacify his outraged supporters.
Its alright. Dont hold it against her. She just got a little nervous.
But its a great local business. Keep on supporting it. And most importantly, on November 5th go vote. Lets go win this thing.