JD Vance initially turned away from Primanti Bros. in North Versailles

Sen. JD Vance, the Republican nominee for vice president, may have missed an important Saturday in Pittsburgh after initially being turned away by the Primanti Bros. in North Versailles, but it appears there are no hard feelings.

Photos and videos posted on social media, including by an NBC News reporter, show Vance interacting with a small crowd outside the sandwich shop after his surprise visit failed.

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Despite some online outrage, including calls to boycott Primanti's, Vance maintained a conciliatory stance.

“We paid for everyone's food, we gave them a nice tip, and of course when I gave a nice tip I said there would be no taxes on tips,” Vance said, referring to a suggestion made by both presidential candidate was favored. “It’s okay, don’t blame (the worker). She was just a little nervous, but it's a great local shop. Let’s continue to support it.”

Primanti CEO Adam Golomb also downplayed the situation in an email to TribLive.

“Without prior notice, today’s campaign stop caused temporary confusion among our staff,” Golomb said. “However, Senator Vance and his team were welcomed to our restaurant shortly thereafter and communicated with our guests inside and on the property.”

A follow-up question about whether Vance ordered a sandwich was not immediately answered.

In August, the chain allowed the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz campaign to reserve its Moon Township location. Rumors circulated online that the event was staged, with white vans full of actors arriving to play guests.

Snopes investigated these claims with the help of a TribLive reporter who was at the restaurant that day and found no “credible evidence of involvement” of paid actors.