Republican Senator JD Vance of Ohio was recently denied entry into the Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Sports Bar located in North Versailles, Pennsylvania. The restaurant, well-known for its sandwiches, is part of a chain with locations throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Maryland. NBC News reporter Gary Grumbach reported on X that the press was informed by a restaurant worker that “cameras were not allowed,” as the establishment did not want a “campaign event” taking place.
Despite being initially denied entry, Vance later interacted with people outside the restaurant, urging them to continue supporting the local business and reminding them of the importance of voting in the upcoming presidential election. He also explained that his team had covered everyone’s meal expenses and left a generous tip for the staff.
The CEO of Primanti Bros., Adam Golomb, released a statement to TribLive, clarifying the situation. Golomb stated that “without any advance notice, today’s campaign stop caused some momentary confusion for our staff.” He further explained that Senator Vance and his team were eventually welcomed into the restaurant where they engaged with guests inside and outside the property.
This incident follows reports of a similar occurrence at another Primanti Bros. location in Moon, Pennsylvania. Customers there were allegedly asked to leave prior to Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D), arriving for a campaign event.