For years, Madi Taylor would drive past the Village Pizza building on North Chestnut Street in New Paltz and think: That would make a great bar. At the time, she and her longtime collaborators—Luke Peters, Julie Dabbs, and Leah Allen—were working together at Huckleberry, the beloved bar-restaurant just a few blocks away. The idea of doing something in that space stayed with them, a kind of daydream that resurfaced during the buildout of their second project, Darlings a restaurant in Tillson.
Then, last fall, Huckleberry closed. After nearly a decade in business, the team found themselves at a crossroads. The infrastructure at the original building wasn’t sustainable for a full-service restaurant, and their lease negotiations had hit a wall. One day, while driving to a doctor’s appointment Taylor noticed the Village Pizza building was vacant. She spent the day trying to track down the owner without luck. “I kid you not,” she says, “that night, he messaged me on Instagram and said, ‘Hey, Village Pizza is available if y’all are looking for a new spot.’”
Three days later, the lease was signed. They called the new venture Shorties—a nod to the cute, endearing energy they aim to foster, and a companion name to Darlings. Unlike Darlings, their sprawling full-service restaurant, Shorties was designed to be a bar first, with a food menu built to match the vibe rather than define it. “When Huckleberry opened, the vision was really a bar that had good bar food, and it sort of just started to evolve really quickly into a restaurant,” Taylor says. “So we were like, let’s try to have a bar again because that’s what we want.”
That intention shows up in the design. The interior leans into a playful, Mid-Century aesthetic: a big bright red bar anchors the space, while wood paneling, mirrors, and orb-shaped pendant lights add a retro polish. Booths are divided by bamboo-style headboards, and orange plaid curtains filter the sun. The seating—upholstered in orange and lime green—and the abundance of hanging houseplants soften the look and reinforce the laid-back vibe. There’s also a game area with pinball and an old-school video game console. Outside, they’ve extended the look with wooden tables under fringed umbrellas, exterior bar seating, and fresh landscaping that buffers the patio from busy Route 32.
The menu is casual and fun, with comforting dishes and bold flavors. While hot dogs are a nod to Huckleberry’s pandemic-era offerings, they’re just one part of a broader menu. Standouts include pozole ($14), a warming bowl of red broth with hominy, chicken, cabbage, onion, cilantro, and fresh jalapeño; the confit-style wings ($12), served with a choice of Buffalo, hoisin BBQ, or togarashi-lime dry rub and a side of ranch; and the Tofu Reuben ($15), layered with house-marinated tofu, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing on marbled rye. Still, the dogs are a draw: the Kimchi Daaaawg ($8) gets topped with housemade kimchi, sriracha kewpie mayo, scallions, sesame seeds, and nori, while the Huli Huli Doggy ($8) goes tropical with grilled pineapple salsa, hoisin BBQ sauce, and cilantro. For the true hot dog enthusiast (or a large group), the Hot Dog Tower ($42) includes 12 mini dogs, all three sides—curly fries, coleslaw, and baked beans—and four condiments of your choice.
The drink program continues the playful theme, balancing nostalgia and fun with serious bartending chops. Tiki classics and ice cream-based cocktails share menu space with returning favorites from past projects. The Miss Carousel ($15) is a breezy mix of Empress gin, salers, bergamot, elderflower, lemon, and mint, while the Spooky Lady Sideshow ($15) leans smoky and floral with mezcal, Aperol, lavender, honey, and citrus.
Things get more indulgent at the tiki bar, where soft serve and tropical flavors take the spotlight. The Shorties Saturn ($15) puts a creamy twist on the classic with gin, lemon, passionfruit, velvet falernum, and a swirl of vanilla soft serve. The Mumbo Jumbo mixes whiskey, pink peppercorn, poblano, lemon, and pineapple Dole Whip for a spicy-sweet flavor bomb. On the non-alcoholic side, the Lavender Lemonade ($6) and Mango Spritz ($8) offer bright, refreshing options that don’t skimp on complexity.
Plans for programming are already underway. Trivia nights, a paint-and-sip series, and even a pinball league are all on the table as the team observes how the space is used and what guests are asking for. “They call me the cruise director,” Taylor says, laughing. “I’m trying to figure out what the space needs. I need to feel what people want and what they’re asking for and see how the space is being used.” It’s a flexible, community-first approach: serve good food and drinks, stay open to customer comments, and evolve from there.
“We’re committed to our community,” says Taylor. “We love kind and helpful feedback. We’re super excited to see how Shorties progresses in New Paltz. And our Google listing is totally broken, and it still says that we’re Village Pizza and there’s nothing we can do about it.”
Shorties is open Thursday to Monday from 2pm-10pm at 81 North Chestnut Street.
