With key members of the crew out of commission, Franklin County’s most infamous outlaw moonshiners are shifting gears — and business models — in a bold bid to stay afloat.
Steven Ray Tickle, known to fans as “Tickle,” has surprised his moonshining partner Henry with a legal twist: opening a restaurant. “You told me you were opening a restaurant — I’m impressed,” Henry remarked upon seeing the scale of the new venture. Tickle, ever the maverick, replied, “You think I was going to be making grilled cheeses in the backyard?”
The eatery is more than just a side project. Tickle says it’s a way to secure a legal income stream after years of high-stakes bootlegging. “I’ve made real good money with my illegal activities, but it’s time to start thinking about long-term legal investments,” he said.
The shift comes at a critical time. With Josh still recovering from an injury and now long-time ally Kenny hospitalized after collapsing, the pressure is mounting. “We had to pick him up — he could hardly walk,” Henry revealed. “It’s going to be several weeks before he’s back, and we don’t have enough money coming in right now.”
With demand for moonshine holding strong, the duo turned to an old ally, Perry Whitlock — a veteran moonshiner and now manager of an up-and-coming local fighter. Henry and Tickle met with him at a lively fight night, far from the backwoods stills of yesteryear, and struck a deal to keep liquor flowing.
Perry agreed to supply 100 cases a week, and the partners are counting on the consistent flow to stabilize their operation during this rough patch. But moving the product safely and discreetly poses another challenge — one that Tickle has already planned for.
Behind the new restaurant lies an old truck stop garage, soon to be repurposed into a moonshine stash site. “It’s kind of like having a fast-food drive-thru — except this is a drive-thru for bootleg,” said Tickle with a grin.
Henry, cautious as ever, was quick to spot a security camera. “That’s the man’s Kryptonite,” Tickle joked, removing the camera immediately to keep operations under the radar.
Perry rolled in days later with the first of many promised deliveries. “You keep bringing loads like this, and we’re going to have a good time together,” Henry told him as they offloaded gallons of shine in the concealed garage.
Still, there are growing concerns. A new casino coming to the area is expected to increase law enforcement patrols, particularly on roads surrounding the hub. With plans to transport larger loads beyond Perry’s pickup, the team is now faced with the challenge of how to move high-volume liquor without attracting attention.
“I guess I’m going to have to talk to Henry and figure something out,” Tickle said.
For now, the moonshine flows, the restaurant serves as a front, and the outlaw duo fights to keep their legacy alive — legal or not.
