Local moonshiner and restaurateur, Steven “Tickle” Tickle, is no stranger to high-stakes gambles—but this week, he may have pulled off his boldest move yet in a bid to save his restaurant and livelihood.
After being forced to close his eatery due to staffing and financial struggles, Tickle turned to what he knows best—moonshine. With winter in full swing and Brandy in short supply, he brewed a rare apple and carrot Brandy, hoping to fetch top dollar to fund a relaunch of his business.
Tickle’s first sale attempt went south when a buyer ghosted him, and the second nearly unraveled when the meeting place turned out to be next door to the local police department. “Either the dumbest or most genius sale I’ve ever tried,” Tickle said, visibly nervous with the shine stashed in his truck.
Undeterred, Tickle partnered with friend Perry at a local wrestling event, where Perry allowed him to sell directly to customers—at a premium. Amid the body slams and roar of the crowd, Tickle and fellow shiners Josh and Henry sold several gallons at $125 apiece, earning enough to reopen the restaurant.
BACK IN BUSINESS
With doors finally open, “Tickle’s Table” made a splash by launching its signature Tickle’s Burger Challenge. The challenge? A monstrous meal consisting of two burgers (each loaded with over 5 pounds of beef), a massive basket of bacon cheese fries, a heaping bowl of loaded baked beans, and a 32-ounce milkshake—all to be devoured within an hour.
The first contender, Mason, gave it his best shot, but came up short. Still, Tickle celebrated the effort, noting the real win was the buzz: “We had 180 people watching the livestream, shares going through the roof—it’s creating a stir!”
While Mason didn’t make it onto the Wall of Champions, Tickle’s gamble appears to be paying off. “This ain’t just a restaurant,” he said with a grin. “It’s a destination now.”
Moonshine, wrestling, and a burger mountain—Tickle’s revival is the kind of wild comeback story only Franklin County could deliver.
