Memphis Pizza Owner Refuses Service to National Guard Troops
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Midtown Memphis pizza shop owner has ignited a firestorm of controversy after refusing to serve four uniformed Tennessee National Guard members over the weekend, vowing he would “make the same decision tomorrow.” Miles Tamboli, owner of Tamboli’s Pasta & Pizza on Madison Avenue, said the refusal was not directed at the individual service members but at the National Guard’s presence in Memphis as part of the federally led Memphis Safe Task Force.
“I love this country and I love this city, and that is exactly why I made this call,” Tamboli told Fox News. “I want Memphis to be safe. Every business owner does. And the honest truth is that Memphis was already getting safer before this Task Force ever arrived.”
Context and Background
The Memphis Safe Task Force was established by President Donald Trump in September 2025 to combat violent crime in the city. It combines local police with agents from the FBI, DEA, ATF, ICE, Homeland Security, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Tennessee National Guard, and state troopers. According to NPR, the task force has resulted in more than 10,900 arrests and over 1,800 illegal firearms seized. However, critics note that the majority of arrests began with routine traffic stops rather than violent crime investigations.
Tamboli cited Memphis Police Department data showing crime was at a 25-year low through the first eight months of 2025, before the task force arrived — data later confirmed by an independent Tennessee Bureau of Investigation audit.
The Owner’s Stand
In a detailed statement to WMC Action News 5, Tamboli argued that the task force has made Memphis “harder to live in.” He pointed to the recent fatal shooting of 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson by National Guard troops during a foot chase, an incident in which no body camera footage has been released and the family says they have received no answers.
“Being pro-safety means telling the truth about what actually protects a community, and it is not soldiers trained for combat doing the work of police officers,” Tamboli said. “That mismatch is dangerous for the people of Memphis and dangerous for the troops themselves, who were sent here to do a job they were never trained for.”
Tamboli said he joined “dozens of other local businesses” in a public commitment against military policing of streets, indicating an organized opposition movement. He is not the first Memphis business to take such a stand. In January 2026, Da Sammich Spot in Orange Mound asked National Guard members to leave, leading to a large law enforcement presence outside the restaurant.
Backlash and Support
The decision has drawn fierce backlash. Social media users called for a boycott under the hashtag #BoycottTamboli. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) posted on X: “When I get home I’m driving to Memphis and not eating there.”
However, Tamboli’s has also received significant community support. Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy commented “great place!” on a social media post featuring the restaurant. Customers interviewed by WMC expressed support for the owner’s stance. “I would like to support them because they are standing up to the unlawful occupation of Memphis,” one customer said.
Tamboli acknowledged the decision has been “bad for business” but said that does not change his position. Under state and federal law, private businesses may legally refuse service based on customers’ occupations.
Broader Implications
The incident is part of a wider national debate about the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement to American cities, including Portland, Chicago, and New Orleans. According to the Center for American Progress, the administration has spent approximately $1.7 billion on these deployments, which have faced legal challenges including a Supreme Court case regarding National Guard deployment in Chicago.
At least five people have been shot by members of the Memphis Safe Task Force since its launch, according to TBI data. Four of those confrontations were fatal. Tamboli invoked the Declaration of Independence in his statement, citing the founders’ objection to “standing armies among the people.”
What’s Next
Tamboli’s Pasta & Pizza faces an uncertain future as the boycott and support campaigns play out. The incident has amplified scrutiny of the Memphis Safe Task Force and raised questions about the role of military personnel in domestic law enforcement. The Tennessee Military Department and Gov. Bill Lee have been contacted for comment, and the TBI investigation into the Tyrin Johnson shooting remains ongoing.