Majestic Lunch in Pittston served up a meal fit for a vice president on Wednesday when JD Vance popped in for a surprise visit after his speech across the river in West Pittston.
Vance greeted and took photos with surprised diners throughout the quaint Main Street restaurant that included members of a veterans support group huddled with state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a retired Army Reserve colonel.
After working the room for about 20 minutes, Vance and his wife, Usha, ordered lunch to go.
“His wife got a grilled cheese. She’s a vegetarian. He got a hot dog with everything and a double cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato and mayo,” said diner owner Jim McGrady, who said he received short notice Vance “might” be visiting after his speech. “People keep asking me if he paid. Yes, he paid. He tipped very well. He was very generous.”
Vice President JD Vance poses for a photo with Tammy Wenger, commander of the AMVETS Post 59 in Hanover Twp., left, and Nicole Guest, service officer for the Freeland American Legion (Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)
Vice President JD Vance places his order Wednesday during a surprise visit to Majestic Lunch in Pittston. (Courtesy of Majestic Lunch)
Vice President JD Vance shakes hands with 95-year-old Korean War combat veteran Joe Barna, a retired Marine from Freeland.
(Courtesy of Thomas Kane)
Vice President JD Vance speaks to Navy veteran Jack Jones of Nanticoke during a surprise visit Wednesday to Majestic Lunch in Pittston. (Courtesy of Thomas Kane)
Members of the media surround Vice President JD Vance as he greets diners of Majestic Lunch in Pittston during a surprise visit on Wednesday. (Courtesy of Majestic Lunch)
Vice President JD Vance greets patrons during a surprise stop at the Majestic Lunch diner in Pittston Wednesday. July 16, 2025. (Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)
Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance, left, greet patrons during a surprise stop at the Majestic Lunch diner in Pittston Wednesday. July 16, 2025. (Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)
Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance, greet patrons during a surprise stop at the Majestic Lunch diner in Pittston Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)
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Vice President JD Vance poses for a photo with Tammy Wenger, commander of the AMVETS Post 59 in Hanover Twp., left, and Nicole Guest, service officer for the Freeland American Legion (Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)
Vance was in the region to give an address at Don’s Machine Shop to tout the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
McGrady said the vice presidential visit was an “extremely exciting” moment in the history of the 110-year-old diner.
Vance’s impromptu visit came while Garrity was meeting with local veterans who gather about once a month, including members of American Legions in the Freeland and Nanticoke. Garrity occasionally meets with the group to buy them lunch.
“We didn’t have any clue the vice president was coming in. We were sitting there eating and all of a sudden a dog came in and then someone came in and said “stand up.” They had to wand everyone in the restaurant,” recalled Tammy Wenger, a Navy veteran and commander of the AMVETS Post 59 in Hanover Twp. “It was very exciting. I was blown away when he walked in the door. He was very down to earth. He stopped and talked to people. A bunch of media came in with him. It felt like a movie.”
Thomas Kane, 77, a Vietnam veteran from Nanticoke who served in the Marines, said Vance particularly seemed to enjoy talking to fellow Marines. Vance, 40, served in the Marines after high school and deployed to Iraq.
“I was in the Marine Corps. I said, ‘Semper Fi, Col. Vance.’ He saw my Marine Corps shirt. He asked when I served. It was pretty cool. It was kind of unreal,” Kane said. “He was very personable.”
Navy veteran Nicole Guest, a former American Legion district commander and current service officer for the Freeland American Legion, said Vance shared a touching moment with 95-year-old Marine veteran Joe Barna of Freeland.
Vance listened to Barna’s story about a Navy medic, Petty Officer 3rd Class John E. Kilmer, who twice saved his life on the battlefield during the Korean War. Kilmer was killed in August 1952 while shielding Barna from flying shrapnel and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Barna handed Vance one of the photos of Kilmer he carries with him at all times.
Guest and Wenger chatted with and posed for a photo with Vance.
“He stopped to talk to every veteran, shake their hand and take a photo,” Guest said. “It was like sitting around with another veteran, not the vice president of the United States. He was laid back. You didn’t think you were in the room with a politician.”
Originally Published: July 17, 2025 at 2:14 PM EDT