In an area of West County that’s no stranger to reinvention, a former fast-food footprint is getting a nostalgic new life. Shorty’s Diner (12004 Lackland) opened on April 4, bringing a retro, family-rooted concept to St. Louis—one that leans into classic American comfort while aiming to become a lively gathering spot for the surrounding neighborhood. It’s the first Missouri location for a family-owned chain that started years ago in Virginia.
Here’s what to know before you go.
The Atmosphere
St. Louisan Corey Broadus has transformed a former Hardee’s near Westport Plaza into a 1950s-themed eatery dressed in red and black. An original jukebox that belonged to Broadus’ father greets customers, with ’50s-era songs on the playlist and vinyl records hanging on the walls. There’s even a vintage payphone that’s still in working condition.
Throughout his career, Broadus says, he has learned to focus on core principles like great food, clean facilities, and excellent service. But he also knows that having fun matters, and he is quick to find points of connection with customers. One of the ways Shorty’s encourages this is with a license plate collection along the ceiling beams. A contact in St. Charles donated a starter set, and Broadus is actively inviting contributions.
Unlike diners of the 1950s, Broadus expects to do a lot of to-go orders to nearby businesses, hotels, and apartments. To facilitate the flow of customers coming and going, Shorty’s drive-thru window is reserved for delivery driver pickups.
The diner is open daily from 6 a.m.–2 p.m. In the coming months, Broadus plans to host evening events such as classic car and bike meetups on Fridays and Saturdays, with the diner staying open late.
The Menu
Expect hearty portions at reasonable prices. “We’re very conscious of the price point,” Broadus says. “We want people to come in and understand that they’re getting great value.”
Kitchen manager Scotty Underwood and “Chef Bob” Jackson turn out breakfast classics such as biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash, country fried steak, breakfast sandwiches, and breakfast burritos.
But the headliner is Shorty’s Garbage Plate, a bed of hash browns topped with scrambled eggs, melted cheddar, and sausage gravy, plus a choice of bacon, sausage, or ham. It’s a signature dish at the Short family’s original locations in Virginia.
Locals can also rest assured that Shorty’s has a slinger on the menu just for the St. Louis market. It’s complete with hash browns, ground beef, eggs, chili, cheddar, and onions.
Omelets range from Western (with diced ham, cheddar, and veggies) to Cuban (with two kinds of pork, plus Swiss, pickles, and sautéed red cabbage) to Philly cheesesteak (with steak, grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms, and Provolone). Pancakes can be topped with the usual syrup or fresh banana cream, blueberry compote, or homemade granola, while Belgian waffles have even more topping options, including fresh fruit, fried apples, strawberry cheesecake, or s’mores.
Customers can wash it all down with bottomless mugs of freshly brewed Folgers coffee, served from glass carafes.
“There’s just something about breakfast at a diner,” Broadus says. “Nobody leaves in a bad mood.”
For lunch, customers can choose from two dozen sandwich and burger options, including fried bologna, hot pastrami, patty melts, BLTs, and an enormous fried pork tenderloin sandwich with house-made Bistro Sauce. Each sandwich comes with a side of fresh-cut fries, coleslaw, or potato salad.
Blue Plate Specials are posted above the kitchen:
- Monday: Thanksgiving-style turkey sandwich plate
- Tuesday: “Tony’s Tuesdays” is named for Tony Short, CEO of Shorty’s Diner, with three additional locations in Virginia. On Tuesdays, the kitchen team comes up with one-day-only items, such as an Italian-style sausage sub.
- Wednesday: Fried chicken
- Thursdays: Homemade meatloaf with green beans
- Fridays: Southern-fried catfish
The Team
Shorty’s story stretches back to 1948, when the Short family opened Shorty’s Triple Six Diner in Ohio. (It was named for its location at the intersection of U.S. Highway 6 and Ohio 66.) The owners’ son, Gil Short, grew up to design horse racing tracks while operating restaurants on the side. In 2011, after retiring, he reimagined the diner of his childhood, opening the first Shorty’s Diner location in Williamsburg, Virginia, which is now operated by Gil’s son, Tony.
Years ago, Tony and his brother Drew worked in restaurant kitchens for Broadus, a Virginia Beach native whose resume includes such brands as Outback Steakhouse, Dave & Buster’s, The Cheesecake Factory, Bonefish Grill, Uno Pizzeria & Grill, and Bandana’s Bar-B-Q.
Broadus moved to St. Louis years ago but stayed in touch with Tony regarding growth opportunities with the company, and the two struck a deal in 2024. In October, Shorty’s Diner committed to opening two new locations, one in Yorktown, Virginia and the other in St. Louis.
Today, the Short family and Broadus remain close. When Broadus learned that Gil had been a college hockey player, for instance, he sent a child-size Blues jersey with his number 10 to be displayed in a Virginia location. He expects to receive a reciprocal roast in the future to be displayed along with memorabilia from 1950s icons like Elvis and Chuck Berry.
Shorty’s Diner
📍 12004 Lackland, Maryland Heights
📞 314-518-2702
⏰ 6 a.m.–2 p.m. daily
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