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The chain of sandwiches Hoagie Taylor Gourmet will close its 19 outlets largely because of declining sales after its co-founder attended an event last year led by President Donald Trump, according to Washington's.
A spokesman for Taylor Gourmet confirmed the closures in the article. Seventeen locations are located in and around D.C. and two others in Chicago.
Fortune could not join Taylor Gourmet for a comment.
While real estate costs, rapid expansion and competition may have been factors, Washington's quotes several insiders of the company who noted that sales had dropped after co-founder Casey Patten was photographed with Trump. One said that sales had dropped 40% the next day and "never recovered". A spokesman for Taylor Gourmet said the revenues had rebounded.
Patten faced the reaction after an event in January 2017 with the President of the Small Business Administration. Taylor made a brief speech to Trump about how the food industry relies on immigrants and children of US-born immigrants for his staff, and Patten's desire to reduce regulations that would affect his employees.
A headquarters site, PoPville, has published an article on Patten's presence and a link to a photo. The fury of social media has resulted.
Patten later stated that he was "apolitical" and he took the opportunity with the president to promote the problems of small businesses. President Barack Obama appeared at one of Taylor Gourmet's outlets in 2012 and spoke about the challenges small businesses face with Patten and his co-founder David Mazza.
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