Pizza Shop Refuses To Remove Pro-Bush Sign

BOSTON -- The owner of a pizza shop across from the FleetCenter is furious that the city has asked him to take down a banner he's erected across from the FleetCenter supporting President George W Bush.

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Amalia Barreda Reports On Sign

NewsCenter 5's Amalia Barreda reported that it's lunchtime and business at Halftime Pizza is hot. Back in the kitchen, they can't make the pizzas fast enough.

Right across from the FleetCenter, you would think that Halftime Pizza would be looking forward to a major money week during the Democratic National Convention. Instead, the owner says all the hassle of it is forcing him to close his restaurant down.

"I'm closing because of all the security, the hassle, my regular customers are gone for the week. It's just going to be dealing with the DNC, and I'll put my food up against anybody else's, but they have over 30,000 meals in there, and you can't compete against a free lunch," owner Mark Pasquale said.

On Wednesday, Pasquale began advertising his feelings on a 24-foot long banner he hung outside his restaurant. The sign thanks the DNC for nothing and dares to root for the Republican incumbent for president.

He said that he got a visit Thursday from city officials who wrote him up for lacking a permit for the sign.

"I'm not taking it down. It's staying. I'll pay the fine," Pasquale said.

"I think he's definitely within his rights, and I appreciate what he did," customer David Croley said.

Croley and his colleague, Brian Danley, came from blocks away to combine lunch with a show of support.

"You know, he's being shut down, and his business is being shut down. I'm here to support him. And I will come back here again. Absolutely," Danley said.

Pasquale said that he'll be open again the day after the convention.