A growing number of Trump supporters are calling for a boycott of Authentic Restaurant Brands, the parent company of Pittsburgh culinary staple Primanti Brothers, after a Primanti Brothers manager refused to allow Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance inside the building.<\/p>\n
The incident took place on Saturday, September 28, when Vance travelled to the chain\u2019s North Versailles, Pennsylvania location to meet with a large group of supporters. Vance intended to make a quick appearance at the restaurant, meet with patrons and tip the staff, though he was barred from entry, according to several eyewitnesses and videos from the scene.<\/p>\n
An employee reportedly told the campaign that this was \u201cnot a campaign stop\u201d and that \u201cJD\u2019s not allowed in.\u201d In addition, the restaurant manager threatened to call the police if Vance entered the establishment, an eyewitness told\u00a0Fox News.<\/p>\n
Sean Logue, an attorney from the Pittsburgh area who witnessed the interaction, uploaded several videos from inside the store to social media.\u00a0\u201cJ.D. Vance\u2019s SUV pulls up, Secret Service comes into the restaurant,\u00a0Secret Service guards the area between the SUV and the entrance to the restaurant.\u00a0J.D. Vance, he gets out, and then the manager runs out and yells at him and says,\u00a0you can\u2019t come in here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He then reported that the manager called company headquarters and was told that Vance was not allowed in the building.<\/p>\n
The Republican senator then headed to the parking lot to meet with the large group of supporters gathered there, and sent staffers into the restaurant to get contact information for supporters who were not able to meet. He also paid for everyone\u2019s food, tipped the restaurant staff and wrote \u201cno tax on tips if you vote for Trump\u201d on his receipt.<\/p>\n