Community is The Heart and Soul of This Ultimate Short-Order Experience – The Legendary Shorty’s Grill in Loris, SC

By Tammie Hughes

When you walk into Shorty’s Grill at 4115 Meeting Street in downtown Loris, SC, you’ll immediately feel the energy, the hustle and bustle, the conversations between locals that carry across the room, the quick checkout banter at the pickup window that passes from the grill to the sidewalk, and the staff working in unison on the line, manning the grill, and assembling plates and to-go orders faster than you can blink an eye. They all still carve out time to say hello and tell you about the daily specials. The team works incredibly well together—a well-oiled machine that moves in tandem like a murmuration of starlings. If you’ve never seen this “murmuration” phenomenon, watch this YouTube® video; it’s a vast amount of birds moving in perfect patterns that swirl and dive and rise in a pseudo dance that is absolutely mesmerizing to witness.

Everyone loves a good diner, a greasy spoon, a short order grill… whatever you call it, it’s a place where locals gather every morning for a cup of coffee and small-town gossip, a place where the community rallies and supports one another, a place where the line cooks and the servers know your name, a place where the owner sees your familiar face and asks about your life. It’s warmhearted, it’s connection, and it’s community—that you won’t find in just any morning cafe or lunch stop. Places like this are a special breed, and that’s something the lifelong local “Shorty” knew forty-seven years ago when he and his wife Betty took over the establishment formerly known as the Loris Lunch and Pool Room.

When it comes to community, David “Shorty” Conner has vehemently supported and graciously been supported—by Loris area residents. The hard-working, dedicated lad worked at the Meeting Street staple as a young boy racking pool balls and later standing atop a Pepsi® crate at the grill, flipping burgers. As the thirteenth child born into a large family, Shorty quit school at the tender age of twelve to ease financial hardships. His childhood home was nine miles away in the rural community of Mt. Vernon. Most days he tirelessly rode his bike back and forth to work. The police station/jailhouse (re. kind lady working there) near the local lunch spot took notice and offered him a “cell” to sleep in overnight when the days were long and the mornings early. This sort of small-town kindness shaped the man we call “Shorty.”

Shorty and his wife Betty Conner purchased the establishment in 1979. They changed the name to Shorty’s Grill and kept much of the menu the same. It’s a right of passage for the close-knit family—to work in the business, that is. Shorty’s Son—Nick Conner, his wife Jennifer, and their son, Gage, all handle the day-to-day operations of the grill. Mom, Betty, helps out in the office and lends a hand where needed. Loyalty is not exclusive to family; it’s evidenced by tenured team members, like thirty-year head cook Calvin Brown, who has been turning out plate after plate of deliciousness for over thirty years; Ricky Phillips, who handles prep in the mornings and whips up the daily specials on the regular for the past eleven years; Lawrence Jordan, who has been delivering hot food to nearby customers for over eight years; and Linda Ryder, who opens up the place every morning without fail for the past thirty years. Everyone pitches in and simply handles what needs to be done. Regardless of position, you’ll see owners and staff washing dishes and sweeping floors.

“We treat our employees like family; we respect them, and we don’t micromanage them. They are just as much a part of Shorty’s as we are,” Nick offers.

Yes, it’s a tradition, you could say, not just for the Conners, but for their “grill family” members as well. Landon, Nick’s eighteen-year-old son, has somehow managed to escape the call of the grill for now. As a star athlete, he has set his sights on The Citadel, hoping to land a “walk-on” spot at the iconic “Four for Forty” institution.

The grill has been going strong under the Shorty’s sign for forty-seven years. The patrons are loyal too. During my visit, I grabbed a seat at the counter and started conversing with others. Joey Letts, longtime friend of the family and repeat customer, started to give me the lowdown. It was then that I realized this grill is special; beyond great food, it had a story. I admit, I only stopped in for a bite to eat while running errands. I had plans to write about a different venue for May’s feature spotlight. But, as I sat, ate, conversed, and observed, the place spoke to me, and I had to find out more.

In speaking with Nick that day, I realized what a jewel this place is—to them, to the staff, and to the town.

“We love our customers. We love hearing about their lives and keeping up with the goings-on, and we treat everyone the same—new customers, lifelong customers, heck, you could be a celebrity; it doesn’t make any difference. Everyone likes to feel special, and that’s what we try to do here. Be good to people and treat them like you want to be treated,” Nick smiled.

Shorty and Betty faced the unthinkable when their daughter, Meagan, lost her battle with cancer at the young age of sixteen. A tragedy of such proportion can break a family, send souls into the deepest corners of grief, and ignite life-long depression. But the Conners are not your typical clan—they rallied, they celebrated the time they had with Meagan, and they leaned on family, friends, and the same community that they have dedicated their lives to enriching. The Conner family bond stood strong, and the tight-knit relationships became even stronger. Meagan was a beautiful young woman who won pageant crowns, played sports, and exuberantly showed team spirit on the cheer squad. She often added a butterfly drawing at the end of her name. The family had a memorial painted on the wall out back with butterfly wings and details about Meagan’s journey. It’s fitting and exactly what you’d expect.

“Dad taught me many things: being responsible, having a good work ethic, how to be a great father, and that simply being kind to people didn’t cost a dime. And he taught me the business, how to run things, how to keep customers loyal, how to keep employees happy, and how to treat everyone with respect. He taught me to be a good person,” Nick beamed as he remembered his father.

So, I guess, my lovely readers, you wanna know about the food too…

To put it bluntly, Shorty’s Grill should be featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. No doubt.

The grill features daily “plate” specials; they are well-known for their fried chicken; they lure countless customers from long distances for their famous Chicken Bog on Thursdays; and the cheeseburgers are legendary. They hand-cut their fries, have some of the best dogs in the area, and the chicken sandwich is hands-down perfect. Customers say the breakfast is incredible and the pork chops are always in-demand. The menu is extensive, and they execute it with flair that you can only see at old-school diners and grills. You can eat inside at a table or sit at the counter to take in all the action. They also have a walk-up window to grab your order. The speed at which they serve dine-in customers, box up deliveries, and service the pick-up window is a feat to behold. I absolutely love the energy of places like these!

Shorty was honored and laid to rest before the saddened community in June of 2025. The funeral procession eased along the downtown streets that were completely lined with people paying their respects, as if a celebrity were passing through. True connections run deep, stay constant, and affect a soul’s journey. A true connection with others is backed by genuine concern, shared experiences, and rallied support. This was Shorty’s life in every way that mattered. Loris shaped this man, gave him a foundation he could build on, and a loyalty he could depend on. He is “The Legend of Loris,” and locals can recount untold stories of a man who knew no strangers, always gave a helping hand, and lived life to the fullest. He was a great supporter of the community, often provided food for area events, and contributed to the Loris High School athletic departments and youth leagues on a regular basis. He always gave back in many ways, and the town showed up in full to honor his life.

You know what they say, “Behind every great man…” There’s an extraordinary woman like Betty Conner, who stood in the long-cast shadow of a man cherished by so many. She was happy to be his greatest supporter, biggest fan, and hard-working partner, all the while managing a household, being the best mom, and carving out time to spend with her grandchildren. No small feat, for sure.

I called Nick to follow up on a few details after our visit and heard Betty joking in the background…

“It’s always Shorty, Shorty, Shorty; you know I bought this place and worked hard too!” Betty joked and laughed. Betty is a tenacious woman, all too modest—much like the women of her generation. She continues to help out in the office and is still revered by her family and the entire team as “the woman in charge.”

Homage is evident throughout the venue, with photos of Shorty here and there; there’s even a photo of him on the back of their new “Weiner Mobile,” a.k.a. the delivery truck. Shorty liked doing the deliveries and did so about ninety percent of the time, mostly in beat-up old cars, until about fifteen years ago when Nick talked his dad into getting a functioning vehicle. The delivery van was updated with a wrapped logo, a hot dog on top, the photo of Shorty on the back window, and a PA system to play music and announce the daily specials on their runs.

When asked about what’s next on the horizon…

“Things will stay the same. Dad always said, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But we have thought about opening a place in North Myrtle; we’ll see… For now, we’re continuing to make Shorty’s the best and live up to the iconic name. Also, I want to personally thank every single customer for supporting us over forty-seven years; we love you, and you are the backbone of Shorty’s and our lives,” Nick replied.

Shorty’s closed their dinner service during COVID. They are currently open from 5AM to 3PM Mon-Sat, and closed on Sundays. There are potential plans to reopen for dinner.

If you haven’t been, a visit needs to be on your to-do list, ASAP.

Check out daily specials on their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/p/SHORTYs-Grill-100063466546669/

Shorty’s Grill
4115 Meeting Street
Loris, SC 29569
843-756-1390