REID J. EPSTEIN and BYRON TAU

10/5/12

CLEVELAND — President Obama's impromptu stop Friday at Cleveland's West Side Market had one business frustrated about the Secret Service lockdown.

Stopping at Rolston Poultry, Obama asked the man working the counter how business was going.

"Terrible since you got here," he said.

Reached by phone, a person at Rolston's who did not give his name explained to POLITICO that the presidential visit had put a dent in sales.

"I couldn't sell chicken for an hour. Now I can sell chicken. I got to go," a man said before hanging up. He did mention that he shook Obama's hand.

Obama got a better reception at Michelle's Bakery.

"It is no coincidence that I’m stopping at Michelle’s bakery," Obama said, making a reference to his wife's first name. "I just want to point that out.  And she spells it the right way, with two Ls.  That’s the correct way. How are you. Good to see you. So Michelle, when did you get started with this?"

Obama discussed business, the outlet's cheese danish and butternut bread and the challenges of running a small business before buying pumpkin cheesecake, one Danish butternut loaf, and one loaf of zucchini bread.

http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/10/proprietor-jabs-at-obama...