Georgia businessman’s Charlie Kirk tribute billboard goes viral

A Georgia businessman’s billboard tribute to Charlie Kirk is drawing national attention in the wake of the Turning Point USA founder’s recent murder.

Wayne Robinson, president of Wayne Robinson Holdings, owns a Steak ‘n Shake location in Rome, Georgia. The 1950s-inspired chain serves milkshakes and burgers, and the Rome location is one of hundreds across the country.

Robinson told Fox News Digital he was devastated after Kirk was fatally shot in the neck while speaking to audience members at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.

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“I’ve always been a follower of Charlie,” said Robinson, noting he was impressed by Kirk’s debates with students on college campuses.

“He was bringing so many of those young people to Christ. … He touched me, and when the assassination happened, it was something that really wore heavy on me.”

The day after Kirk died, Robinson was compelled to act quickly. He alerted one of his marketing partners to “put something out there to honor Charlie.”

The billboard reads, “Charlie Kirk, 1993-2025,” followed by the words, “Stand up, speak out, stay bold.”

“I don’t think he would have ever thought, in his wildest dreams, the response that would have taken place after he was assassinated.”

Within days, the response went viral with millions of likes on X – and Robinson said the local response “has been phenomenal.”

“I think it’s got 58,000 local comments. … People from outlying areas [are] saying they’re going to drive to my store just to eat lunch, eat dinner, just to pay respect for what I’ve done for Charlie,” he said.

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Robinson’s location wasn’t the only Steak ‘n Shake spot that received an outpouring of customers after the billboard went viral.

After Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who represents Rome, shared an image of the billboard on social media, people across the country said they’d patronize the chain.

“Eating at Steak ‘n Shake because they put up a Charlie Kirk billboard,” one person wrote on X. “This is the second time this week, all because I saw they put up a billboard in Charlie’s honor.”

“They should be rewarded for this with our business,” another said.

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Robinson said his store received calls across the country, from Michigan to Wisconsin to California, just to say thank you.

“They took the time to physically find us, find our phone number at the store and call to say thank you for doing that,” he said.

Robinson said Steak ‘n Shake’s corporate office contacted him shortly after the billboard went viral.

“They said, ‘You know, you’re supposed to get everything OK’d through corporate when you use the name Steak ‘n Shake on it, but we really like it,'” Robinson recalled.

“It reached [the Steak ‘n Shake owner] and he liked it so much he asked if they could have permission … to do this across the nation.”

Steak ‘n Shake did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Although Robinson is still saddened by Kirk’s death, he said he believes the 31-year-old’s legacy is “reaching a lot of people and changing a lot of minds.”

“He has started a revival across the country that has been so needed,” Robinson said.

“I don’t think he would have ever thought, in his wildest dreams, the response that would have taken place after he was assassinated,” he added. “But the movement is great … and I just appreciate all that he did.”

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Robinson’s billboard is one of many tributes to Kirk that have emerged in the past two weeks.

Grooveberries Frozen Yogurt in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, received backlash after honoring Kirk through stickers on its frozen yogurt cups.

Last week, a group of Kirk supporters petitioned Starbucks to honor him by adding his signature tea order to menus nationwide.