In what can only be described as the most disastrous culinary collapse since the Great Bacon Shortage of 2019, Pittsburgh’s iconic sandwich chain, Primanti Bros., has reportedly lost nearly $20 million overnight. The shocking financial hit comes as a result of a rapidly spreading boycott ignited by the controversial barring of Republican vice-presidential nominee J.D. Vance from one of their locations. The once-beloved establishment, known for its stacked sandwiches stuffed with fries and coleslaw, now finds itself in a pickle—without the relish of public approval.
It all started innocently enough. J.D. Vance, the rising political star who had been crisscrossing the country on the campaign trail, made a pit stop at Primanti Bros.’ North Versailles location. What could have been a quick bite and a handshake with local supporters turned into a full-blown political scandal. Vance was met not with warm Pittsburgh hospitality, but with a manager who declared, “This isn’t a campaign stop, and J.D.’s not allowed in here.”
What followed was the kind of uproar usually reserved for a bad call in a Steelers game. Videos of the incident went viral, and within hours, social media was on fire with the hashtag #BoycottPrimanti. Trump supporters, conservatives, and even some confused sandwich enthusiasts who weren’t sure why they were mad but were nonetheless determined to express their outrage, began calling for a mass boycott of the chain.
Adding insult to injury, it was revealed that just weeks earlier, Primanti Bros. had hosted a private event for Vice President Kamala Harris, going so far as to clear out paying customers to make room for her entourage. The hypocrisy was too much for some to stomach, and the boycott snowballed into a full-on political sandwich war.
