Even though he voted for George W. Bush four years ago, Mark F. Pasquale was looking forward to the Democrats coming to town, especially since the pizza shop he has run for the past 23 years is right across the street from the FleetCenter. But then the barriers started going up, the security rules kept getting changed, and he finally had enough. He's closing during the convention and leaving behind a banner in support of Bush.

''It seems like there was supposed to be a party, but it turned out to be a private party," said the 51-year-old Pasquale, who was deluged with media attention yesterday as the 24-foot-long, 4-foot-high banner draped across the building started getting noticed. ''They have 30,000 prepared meals . . . I put my food against anybody, but you can't compete against a free meal."

Pasquale said he will vote for Bush again and said that if the Texan ever comes to Boston, he hopes the president makes Halftime Pizza, located at the corner of Friend and Causeway streets, one of his stops.

Pasquale said he once served Democratic nominee John F. Kerry some pizza years back, but never expected the Massachusetts senator would one day be running for president.

Pasquale said that his two sisters, both Democrats, are not happy about the sign and that they are also concerned there might be repercussions. Still, he won't take the sign down.

''I got it bolted into the brick," he said.

Pasquale, who lives on the North Shore, is not only skipping the convention; he is also skipping the country during his week off. He will be golfing in Canada.