Georgia steakhouse billboard honors Charlie Kirk, goes viral after murder

ROME, Ga. — A Rome, Georgia, Steak ’n Shake owner has drawn national attention after installing a roadside billboard honoring Charlie Kirk, the Turning Point USA founder who was fatally shot while addressing an audience at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.

Wayne Robinson, president of Wayne Robinson Holdings and a Steak ’n Shake operator in Rome, told Fox News Digital he was devastated by Kirk’s death and moved by the activist’s campus debates, saying he believed Kirk '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 billboard, erected the day after Kirk’s death, reads 'Charlie Kirk, 1993-2025' and includes the line 'Stand up, speak out, stay bold.'

Robinson said the response was swift and sweeping. He noted the tribute rapidly drew attention on social media, with millions of likes on X and tens of thousands of local comments. He said people from outside the area began contacting the Rome store, telling him they would drive to Georgia to eat and pay respects for what he had done. 'I don’t think he would have ever thought, in his wildest dreams, the response that would have taken place after he was assassinated,' Robinson said. 'But the movement is great … and I just appreciate all that he did.'

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.' A Steak ’n Shake representative did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Robinson emphasized that, even as he mourns Kirk’s death, he believes the 31-year-old’s legacy is resonating well beyond his passing.

Kirk’s death has reverberated beyond the Rome billboard. Robinson said the tribute has helped draw attention to Kirk’s work on college campuses and his broader message about civic engagement. 'He has started a revival across the country that has been so needed,' he 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.'

The billboard is one of several tributes to Kirk that surfaced in the two weeks following his death. In Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Grooveberries Frozen Yogurt drew backlash after displaying stickers honoring Kirk on cups, while supporters petitioned Starbucks to add his signature tea order to menus nationwide. The wave of tributes has sparked a nationwide conversation about memorials and the way public tributes intersect with private business.

The broader cultural moment around Kirk’s death and the tributes has continued to unfold as supporters and critics alike weigh his influence on political discourse and campus activism. Robinson noted that interest has spilled over beyond Georgia, with customers and commentators following the story from states including Michigan, Wisconsin and California.

As the investigation and national conversation continue, Robinson said the friendship he formed with Kirk’s message will endure in the way people think about civic engagement. He added that he hopes the tribute fosters constructive dialogue and motivates others to participate in public life. 'The movement is great,' he repeated, expressing gratitude for the support the tribute has garnered. 'I appreciate all that he did.'