Shorty’s Diner officially rolled into Maryland Heights on April 4, opening at 12004 Lackland Road just off Westport Plaza. The Virginia-born family diner picked the former Hardee’s as its first Missouri outpost, turning the fast-food shell into a 1950s-style hangout for nearby hotels, offices and West County regulars looking for an old-school breakfast-and-lunch spot.
Retro 1950s feel and delivery-friendly flow
Owner Corey Broadus has leaned hard into the throwback look. Inside, red-and-black booths line the space, a working jukebox that belonged to his father cranks out tunes, a vintage payphone sits as a photo-ready relic, and license plates cover the ceiling. Outside, the old drive-thru did not go to waste. Instead of burgers in paper bags, it now serves as a dedicated pickup lane for delivery drivers so online and to-go orders can move faster. “We're very conscious of the price point; we want people to come in and understand that they're getting great value,” Broadus told St. Louis Magazine.
Menu and hours
Shorty’s kitchen sticks to diner staples: biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash, country-fried steak and classic burgers all make the cut. The standout is the signature Garbage Plate, a hearty combo topped with eggs, cheddar and sausage gravy. The Maryland Heights location lists its hours as 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, and the restaurant can be reached at 314-518-2702. For the full lineup and online ordering, check out the menu on Toast.
Chain roots and local plans
The Short family launched the first Shorty’s Diner in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 2011 and traces its diner history back to Shorty’s Triple Six Diner. In St. Louis, Broadus is the one steering the local ship. He plans to turn the parking lot into a weekend scene, hosting classic-car and bike meetups on Fridays and Saturdays, and he may extend hours when those crowds roll in, according to St. Louis Magazine.
For folks in a hurry, the setup is built with speed in mind, with the drive-thru window geared toward delivery pickups and online orders. Ordering options are listed on the restaurant’s Toast page, where you can also find menus, hours and ordering details for the Maryland Heights location.
