Photo by @PuckBuddys

Photo by @PuckBuddys

We saw the above photo on the Prince of Petworth’s site, with Dan Silverman wondering what or who necessitated the forbidding tent that appeared this morning outside the Taylor Gourmet sandwich shop at 14th and T streets NW.

It’s the president. Typically, when President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden or their families drop by a local business, the Secret Service prepares for their arrival by erecting one of these tents through which the president and others can enter in a private, more secure fashion.

Furthermore, today’s White House schedule includes a visit by the president to a local business in the District. From Politico’s “Morning Score” report:

At 10:30, the President will visit a small business in the D.C. area to urge Congress to act on the “To Do List.” Then he’ll lunch with congressional leaders at 11:30. At 3:10, he will posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Specialist Leslie H. Sabo, Jr., in the East Room.

Taylor Gourmet fits all the trimmings for a locally based small business and a place to have a chatty lunch with congressional leaders. To boot, the District’s transit officials are warning drivers and bus riders alike to expect lengthy delays along 14th Street NW due to the movement of the presidential motorcade:

The Circulator buses that normally run up 14th Street are traveling along 13th Street NW “until further notice,” the bus line says.

The thing is, though, that Obama isn’t sticking around for lunch. His meal with congressional leaders is back at the White House. Perhaps he’s planning on a second breakfast? Remember, all the sandwiches are named after something in Philadelphia, and it is an election year. Twenty electoral votes could be riding on Obama ordering a sandwich.

Photo by @jsidman

UPDATE, 11 a.m.: According to a trusty source who forwarded along the White House pool report, Obama will be participating in a roundtable discussion on small business with the following people:

Casey Patten & David Mazza, Founders and Co-Owners Taylor Gourmet
Philadelphia natives Casey Patten and David Mazza are founders and co-owners of Taylor Gourmet, an Italian deli with four locations in the Washington, DC metropolitan region. As the chef and creative partner, Casey is knowledgeable in quick-serve and casual dining. He has been involved in the service industry since 1995. David is responsible for the business planning and has a background in real estate. They opened the first Taylor Gourmet location in 2008. Casey and David were approved for an SBA-backed loan that helped them purchase their third location on 14th Street NW in Washington, DC. They will open a fifth location this summer and plan to hire more than 25 new employees. Casey and David are residents of Washington, DC.

Brian J. Smith, Founding Principal Francis Lee Contracting
Brian J. Smith is a founding principal at Francis Lee Contracting, a three-year-old general contracting firm that specializes in construction. The company employs 14 people and is headquartered in Washington, DC’s Ward 8. Brian has twenty years of experience in the commercial real estate development and financial services industries. With the help of SBA counseling, the company has experienced tremendous success, seeing an annual revenue growth of over 75%. Brian plans to hire additional employees this year and purchase needed construction equipment. Brian is a resident of Arlington, Virginia.

Kathy Rachels, President of Yes! Organic Markets
Kathy Rachels is the president of Yes! Organic Markets. Kathy was born in Korea and immigrated to the United States in 1971. She went into business with her two brothers Gene and Gary Cha, opening their first Yes! Organic Market on Columbia Road NW in Washington, D.C. With the help of two SBA-backed loans, they were able to purchase two separate additional locations, 3425 Connecticut Avenue NW and 4100 Georgia Avenue NW in Washington, DC. Today there are eight locations in the Washington, DC metropolitan region. Kathy has plans to open an additional store and higher more employees. Kathy is a resident of Arlington, Virginia.

Update, 11:50 p.m.: There was a very important detail missing from that pool report. What did the president order from Taylor’s extensive list of hoagies? Obama ordered a 12-inch Spruce Street turkey hoagie, prepared with prosciutto, roasted red peppers and provolone, according to Casey Patten, the shop’s co-owner. Additionally, Obama left with seven more sandwiches to bring back to his lunch meeting with congressional leaders, though Patten couldn’t recall what that order entailed.

He did, however, drop a few hints at the conversation the president led while visiting Taylor Gourmet. Patten told DCist the discussion covered the Small Business Administration and planned legislation that would expand small-business tax credits and equipment write-offs. (Patten and his partner, David Mazza, used an SBA loan to finance the opening of the 14th Street location.)

The Spruce Street is a solid choice. And it’s probably better that Obama went with cold cuts than one of Taylor’s saucier options. “He’s got a long day,” Patten said. “We don’t want to ruin his shirt.”

Filed Under: barack obama, scuttlenot, secret service, Taylor Gourmet,