It's Not Fancy, It's Not Fat Free, it's Just the Way it Used to Be!
Gil Short built Shorty's Diner on a simple promise: good food, large portions, small prices. That promise hasn't changed since day one.
Shorty's Diner | Our Story
How Shorty's Got Started
Gil Short opened the doors on Merrimac Trail in Williamsburg with no gimmicks and no complicated concept — just honest cooking at a fair price. Family-owned and operated from the start, Shorty's was built the old-fashioned way: one good meal at a time.
The Food Speaks for Itself
Pancakes that hang off the edge of the plate. A Garbage Plate that's become a rite of passage. Classic American diner — no trends, no fluff.
Growing the Table in Richmond
Word spread beyond Williamsburg, and in 2021 Shorty's opened a second location on W Broad Street in Richmond. It wasn't a franchise move — it was a family making room for more people at the table.
Regulars, Tourists, and Tradition
Some folks order the same thing every Sunday. Others stumble in once and start planning their return before they've finished their coffee.
Same Promise, Every Morning
Doors open at 6am, seven days a week. The plates are big, the prices are fair, and some things shouldn't change.
