Essex Italian bakery pulls plug on GOP event because owner didn't want Trump flags - New Jersey Globe

Oct 25, 2024

Calandra’s Bakery and Italian Market cancelled on Republicans at the last minute; ‘When we saw the flags, we squashed it’

By David Wildstein, October 23 2024 6:52 pm

The owner of an Italian bakery and deli in Essex County canceled an Essex County GOP get-out-the-vote event at the last minute because he didn’t want Donald Trump flags in his store.

Anthony Calandra, the owner of Calandra’s Bakery and Italian Market, notified Essex County Republicans yesterday that they would need a new place to hold tonight’s program. This was weeks after he confirmed that the party could use his facility and pay him for food and beverages.

“When we saw the flags, we squashed it,” Calandra said of a flyer publicizing the event that included Trump flags and banners.

Assemblyman Al Barlas, the Essex County GOP Chairman, said Calandra canceled the event because he didn’t want “a Republican event at his restaurant because it would hurt his business.”

Citing an internal company policy, Calandra said he canceled the event after learning that Trump supporters would be on his premises with signs and other political paraphernalia.

“This was originally not known to be a rally. It was known to be a meet and greet for local candidates,” Calandra said. “If someone wants to hold a paid dinner, that’s fine, but we don’t allow political rallies on our property.”

He said he didn’t feel bad about pulling the plug at the last minute.

“There’s no written contract. There’s no nothing.” Everybody’s making a bigger deal about this than it is. I have 1,000 employees. This was misunderstood.”

Barlas said the turnout at the new location was “incredible.”

“The energy and enthusiasm was amazing,” he said. “Everyone is focused and ready to spend the next week and a half helping elect Republican candidates up and down the ballot in Essex County.”

Among the attendees expected at tonight’s event, which was quickly moved to another local restaurant, is Republican U.S. Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw. Calandra contributed $10,000 to United 2024, a super PAC boosting Bashaw’s candidacy.

Calandra also contributed $2,500 to Tammy Murphy’s U.S. Senate campaign and donated to two Democratic congressmen, Rob Menendez (D-Jersey City) and Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly). He’s also given to Republicans, including gubernatorial candidates Jack Ciattarelli and Jon Bramnick.

It’s possible that Calandra could face some backlash from customers, particularly in Fairfield, where he has an Italian Bakery. Trump won 70% of the vote in Fairfield against Joe Biden four years ago