Shorty Small?s Renovates Kisor?s Building

Shorty Small’s, a chain of American grill restaurants, plans to open its eighth location Sept. 11 in the building that previously housed Kisor’s Grill & Bakery at 3722 Front St. in Fayetteville.

The first Shorty Small’s opened in Little Rock 26 years ago, said Richard Fairchild, who oversees construction of the chain’s restaurants. Fairchild said he was in charge of constructing that first restaurant and each Shorty Small’s since then.

The company is now based in Oklahoma City, where two of its restaurants are located. Shorty Small’s also has one restaurant in Edmond, Okla., one in Branson, Mo., and one each in the Arkansas cities of Little Rock, North Little Rock and Hot Springs.

Fairchild said the company, which was previously owned by Cajun’s Wharf of Little Rock, is now owned by Paul Kreth.

Although the Branson location brings in the most sales, Fairchild said, Shorty Small’s is popular in Arkansas.

“The Arkansas market is our best market for sure,” he said.

Average weekly sales for Shorty Small’s range from $60,000-$70,000, Fairchild said.

If the Fayetteville restaurant can bring in $60,000 a week, that would likely put it in the No. 3 position among the city’s eateries with $3.1 million in annual sales (behind Red Lobster with $3.4 million and Jose Inc. with $3.3 million in 2000).

The 8,000-SF restaurant will seat about 250 inside and 50 at an outside patio.

The restaurant specializes in ribs, steaks, catfish and hamburgers. Fairchild said Shorty Small’s quality will set it apart from other chains in north Fayetteville like Chili’s and Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar.

In addition to a full bar, Fairchild said, the restaurant will have 12 television sets so the customers can watch sporting events.

The restaurant will be open seven days a week, but those hours have yet to be determined. Fairchild said the Fayetteville restaurant may be open for dinner only.

Kelly Crenshaw, an employee of the Shorty Small’s in Branson, will be the manager of the Fayetteville location.

On parts of the interior and exterior, Fairchild said he’s using Tennessee ledge stone made by Petra Stone of Gravette. The idea, he said, is to make the building look old, as if the walls are crumbling.

“I was excited about finding it,” Fairchild said. “It’s definitely got that Arkansas cliff look.”

Bill Kisor of Rogers closed his restaurant at the Fayetteville location in March.

Kisor opened Kisor’s Grill & Bakery in 1998. Before that, the building at 3722 Front St. housed and Kirby’s Grill & Bakery, which was briefly Austin’s Wood Grill. Both of those restaurants were owned by Kirby Walker, who now owns Noodles, an Italian restaurant in Fayetteville.

Kisor still operates Kisor’s Grill & Bakery in Rogers.