JD Vance meets owner, guests of an Erie market after campaign rally. What he ordered

To have a potential vice president of the United States enter your business, buy a drink and order a sandwich, is hardly typical.

But for Kyle Bohrer, owner of Gordon’s Butcher & Market, that scenario played out Wednesday, when Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance and his wife, Usha, stopped by the meat market at 4815 Peach St.

“We’re just a little meat market in Erie, Pa.,” Bohrer said. “To have a net be cast that big that lands on our little place for a potential vice president ― it’s pretty cool.”

Vance traveled to the business shortly after delivering remarks at Team Hardinger, at 1280 W. 18th St.

Bohrer said the Vance team had notified him this past weekend that the nominee was considering a visit to a local establishment and that Gordon’s was on the list as a contender.

Bohrer opened Gordon's in 2020 and convinced two other friends, Martin Firestone and Ryan Paris, to help him start building what is now three connected entities: Gordon's Butcher & Market, Firestone's and Paris's Cap & Cork.

“Obviously, we were a little nervous with any kind of backlash,” Bohrer said of Vance's visit. “But the best thing about Gordon’s is that it’s a centrally located neighborhood meat market and we have everybody from all walks of life come through our doors.”

While a power outage at Gordon’s 20 minutes prior to Vance’s arrival caused some uncertainty about the visit, Bohrer said Vance and his wife ultimately arrived as scheduled into the “dark market.”

What did Vance get at Gordon's?

Bohrer said Vance ordered and paid for an ox roast sandwich and a beer before shaking hands and taking photos with patrons for roughly 20 minutes. Bohrer said Vance spoke with him and his business partners, Ryan Paris and Martin Firestone, about the history of the business.

Vance has made similar visits while campaigning across the country, one of which, on Aug. 22, went viral after Vance visited a Georgia bakery and many people online ridiculed "awkward" interactions with staff, especially when one worker asked to not be filmed.

A.J. Rao can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X @ETNRao.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Election 2024: JD Vance stops at Erie meat market after speech