Primanti Brothers disputes claim that Senator JD Vance was 'banned' from entering the country, Vance calls for support for small businesses

NORTH VERSAILLES (KDKA) – Primanti Brothers is setting the record straight with claims that vice presidential candidate JD Vance was “banned” from making a political stop at their North Versailles restaurant on Saturday.

The restaurant says it was all due to a temporary confusion among employees, adding that they received no advance notice that Vance was coming.

Washington County Republican Chairman Sean Logue was among what he said were about a hundred Trump supporters at the restaurant who had been tipped off that Vance would be stopping there. They arrived an hour early.

“The manager told his patrons and other Republicans that Vance would not be allowed to make a campaign stop at Primanti Brothers,” Logue said. “And then when there was resistance and you said, 'Wait a minute, Kamala Harris just did this a month ago,' the response was, 'Well, if he wants to sit down and order food, we can't stop him.'

When Vance actually arrived in Monroeville before an event, Logue said that the restaurant's manager ran up to him to tell him that he was not allowed in the restaurant, that there was no campaigning allowed there and that if he did go in – They would call the police and file a trespassing report.

“I think it’s absolutely crazy,” Logue said.

Vance stayed away from the restaurant while one of his employees tried to negotiate with Primanti's manager, who then called corporate headquarters, according to Logue.

Many of the Trump supporters left the restaurant where Vance was taking photos.

In a statement to KDKA-TV, a spokesperson for Primanti said Vance and his team were then welcomed into the restaurant, where they were able to speak with various guests.

“Primanti's is proud to be an integral part of the Pittsburgh community and a proud American company, having hosted sitting presidents, politicians and political candidates from all backgrounds for over 90 years. Our doors are open to all guests who wish to dine with us. Without prior notice, today's campaign stop caused some confusion among our staff. Shortly thereafter, however, Senator Vance and his team were welcomed to the property with Senator Vance's supportive comments. We are a little nervous considering the Secret Service, police and crowd accurately reflect the nature of the incident, but we are glad that the problem was solved quickly.

“First of all, he wasn’t welcome,” Logue said. “JD Vance left of his own accord, risking trespassing charges, entered Primanti's, paid the bill for all of us, and walked out two minutes later.”

Logue posted a video on the Washington County GOP Facebook page that shows Vance walking back into the restaurant. As he left the restaurant and returned to an SUV, he briefly addressed supporters.

“I think what happened is that she (the manager) just freaked out a little bit because there were a lot of people there and she didn't want to make her restaurant part of a campaign break,” Vance said in a video Logue shared had . “It's okay, don't blame her, she just got a little nervous. It’s a great local business, let’s keep supporting them.”

Primanti addressed these comments in his statement.

We asked Logue about the positive nature of Vance's comments.

“Vance is a true gentleman, and he was very kind and very accommodating, and he was magnanimous, and he didn't want to cause any more problems,” Logue said. “I'll be honest with you. “I'm telling you that the way the Primanti Brothers have treated me and the other Republicans is absolutely unacceptable, and nowhere in their statement is there an apology, where's my apology, Primanti Brothers.” Logue said Primanti's has tried to call him but he wouldn't answer her calls.

In their statement, Primanti's spokesperson said their doors are open to anyone who wants to eat there.

KDKA has reached out to a member of the Trump/Vance team for comment and is awaiting a response.