WINTERSET, Iowa — If running for president doesn’t work out for Donald Trump, one midwestern establishment surely has his back: Pizza Ranch.
As Trump and others rolled into Winterset, it was hard not to notice the sign at the town’s Pizza Ranch location, which simply read “TRUMP EATS FREE.”
Spotted en route to John Wayne birthplace museum, where Trump’s holding event in 45 mins.. pic.twitter.com/eoYZMKsHzm
— Al Weaver (@alweaver22) January 19, 2016
The general manager of the Midwestern pizza staple said the real estate mogul would certainly be granted a free meal if he would have detoured off the campaign trail.
“Absolutely,” said Jeremy Gatlin, 24, the location’s general manager. “That was my plan. I would have let him eat for free because it was my assumption that if he came in, he’d bring a lot of paying customers along with him.”
“It’s not an endorsement of any kind. Strictly business,” Gatlin said. “I assumed that if somebody with the stature of Donald Trump comes, he’d bring 100 paying customers with him … that was my thought on it initially.”
Unfortunately for Gatlin, Trump did not make an appearance, as he had an early afternoon speech at the Renewable Fuels Summit in Altoona. Also of potential worry for Gatlin is that he did not consult with the location’s owner before putting up the three-word promise.
“I’m thinking the owner will watch it tonight [on the news] because I didn’t consult with the owner before I put that up there,” Gatlin said, laughing. “I just went out on a whim, came in a little early … so hopefully he’s not too upset with me.”
If the owner is upset with him, Gatlin could likely take the case up to top management of the company. Co-founder Adrie Groeneweg endorsed Trump on Thursday when he stopped by a location in West Des Moines after an event in Urbandale.
However, despite the vow to the GOP 2016 front-runner, Gatlin said he isn’t necessarily a Trump supporter.
“Over the rest of the Republicans, yes. If he were against Hillary [Clinton], absolutely,” Gatlin said before declaring where he stands.
“I’m a [Bernie] Sanders supporter,” he said, adding that he plans to caucus for him in 13 days.
By the time the Trump event ended, Gatlin changed the sign in a return to business as usual.
“SPECIAL LG 1 TOPPING FOR $8.99. PICK UP OR DELIVERY.”
