Key Takeaways
- Grassroots Tribute: Steak ’n Shake owner Wayne Robinson honored Charlie Kirk with a billboard in Rome, Georgia, reading “Stand up, speak out, stay bold,” sparking nationwide attention.
- Massive Response: The tribute went viral with millions of interactions online, customers traveling from out of town, and phone calls pouring in from across the country.
- Bigger Than One Sign: Steak ’n Shake corporate praised the tribute and may expand it nationwide, as supporters say Kirk’s legacy is fueling a revival across America.
A Georgia businessman’s bold tribute to Charlie Kirk is capturing national attention—and drawing crowds to his Steak ’n Shake.
Wayne Robinson, president of Wayne Robinson Holdings and owner of the Rome, Georgia location, said he was devastated by the assassination of the Turning Point USA founder earlier this month. “I’ve always been a follower of Charlie,” Robinson told Fox News Digital. “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’s death, Robinson directed his team to act. A billboard soon went up reading: “Charlie Kirk, 1993–2025. Stand up, speak out, stay bold.”
The response was immediate—and overwhelming. Millions engaged with the tribute online, while Robinson’s store saw an outpouring of support. “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,” Robinson said. Customers even called from across the country to thank him.
The tribute even caught the eye of Steak ’n Shake’s corporate office. Far from reprimanding him, executives asked permission to replicate the billboard nationwide.
Robinson says Kirk’s death has sparked something larger than one sign. “He has started a revival across the country that has been so needed,” he said.
It’s a reminder that one man’s courage—and one businessman’s bold stand—can ripple across America.