What could cause such a beloved local favorite to become a national target? Well, it all started with J.D. Vance—a political figure who, until recently, no one expected would be part of a story involving pastrami, coleslaw, and political fallout. Now, Primanti Bros. finds itself at the center of a national storm, with the situation spiraling out of control faster than anyone could have imagined.

It all began on what seemed like an ordinary day in North Versailles, Pennsylvania, where J.D. Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, tried to make a casual stop at a local Primanti Bros. restaurant. According to several reports, Vance had planned to shake a few hands, eat a sandwich, and maybe tip the hardworking staff. Simple, right?

Not so fast

A manager at the restaurant reportedly told Vance and his team that this was “not a campaign stop” and that he was “not allowed” to enter the establishment. To add insult to injury, the manager allegedly threatened to call the police if Vance tried to walk through the doors. This might have been a small misunderstanding in any other situation, but this was J.D. Vance—running for the second-highest office in the country. The incident was caught on video and immediately went viral.

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