Shorty came up tall on Monday.

By 3:30 p.m., there was a line to get into Shorty’s Pins x Pints on Pittsburgh’s North Shore.

The take-you-back-in-time game room and bar establishment opened at 4 p.m. after nearly two years because of delays from the pandemic.

People of all ages filled the new space to play duckpin bowling and toss a few bean bags on the cornhole game near one of the fire pits in the outdoor space. There were guests enjoying bocce ball, posing for pictures in the old-school photo booth, trying their skill at pinball machines and video games and playing board games Sorry and Battleship.

“The entire space is interactive,” said Mike Hanley, president and co-business partner at HiLife Hospitality, which owns Shorty’s. “We have retro-gaming. In a world of technology, we encourage people to interact with each other and get back to the days before everything became computerized.”

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop | Tribune-Review Guests can play duckpin bowling at Shorty’s Pins x Pints which opened on Pittsburgh’s North Shore on Feb. 21, 2022.  

Hanley — who along with Herky Pollock and Jerry Dilembo created HiLife Hospitality — also owns seven Burgatory restaurants, plus locations inside Heinz Field on the North Side and PPG Paints Arena, Uptown.

DiLembo said they devoted as much attention to the food as the entertainment experience.

The space touches on so many different senses, Pollock said.

“It is hip and cool and young, and there is nostalgia here,” Pollock said. “It has both good food and ambiance. It’s the perfect pairing.”

The name “shorty” refers to what people call the duck pins. The cost to play starts at $15 an hour.

Located in the former Tilted Kilt space across from Burgatory, it has two bars. When you enter, you notice drink signage on the wall that flips like old-time airport departure and arrival signs. There are plenty of craft beer options, a substantial wine selection and cocktails such as The Layer Cake – which has Maggie’s Farm 50/50, agave, lemon, aquafaba and red wine float. The Rock Me Baby is Disobedient Spirits vanilla vodka, passion fruit, lime and perfect bubbly.

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They also serve non-alcoholic beverages.

Food is freshly prepared in a truck in the back that the owners bought in San Antonio, Texas. Shareables include guacamole with house-fried corn tostadas and a pizza box stuffed with nachos.

The Al Pastor taco has shaved adobo rubbed pork shoulder, pineapple tomatillo salsa, onion and cilantro and the Smoked Beef Barbacoa includes 12-hour smoked beef, blistered serranos, chow chow and cilantro. Sides include cocoloco rice, borrachos beans, salsa duo and chips, and Mexican street corn.

They chose this area because the North Shore is vibrant, according to Hanley.

“And, just take a look at that view,” he said. “It’s a place for families, date night or corporate functions.”

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop | Tribune-Review The Layer Cake is one of the craft cocktails at Shorty’s Pins x Pints, which opened on Pittsburgh’s North Shore on Feb. 21, 2022, and has outdoor fire pits.  

What the owners feel is good about this concept is it’s not reliant on game days with PNC Park and Heinz Field nearby.

“The space is versatile and will be a draw with or without sporting events,” said COO Craig Winning, who has operated similar businesses in the U.K. and was director of operations for Punch Bowl Social. “This concept has longevity. It’s eclectic. We have the potential to do phenomenal things here.”

Waiting to play a game of duckpins was Sean Corelli, 25, and his girlfriend Jordi Swanson, 25, both of the South Side. They ordered beer and tacos.

“We will definitely be back,” Corelli said. “It would be great to have a party here. I have never seen anything like this in Pittsburgh.”

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop | Tribune-Review Friends Alyssa Hoffman (right) of Bethel Park and Mia Marmion of Upper St. Clair enjoy drinks at Shorty’s Pins x Pints, which opened on Pittsburgh’s North Shore on Feb. 21, 2022.  

Neither had Alyssa Hoffman, 30, of Bethel Park, or her friend Mia Marmion, 25, of Upper St. Clair. They stopped by for a drink. Being located so close to the river is an added amenity, Hoffman said.

“There aren’t many really good outside bars in Pittsburgh,” Marmion said. “And there is a variety of things to do at Shorty’s Pins x Pints. It really steps up the nightlife here.”

A second location, Shorty’s Tap x Taco, is planned to open in the Waterfront in Homestead this summer, in the former Bar Louie space across from – you guessed it – Burgatory.

Shorty’s Pins x Pints is located at 353 North Shore Drive on the North Side.

Hours are 4 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to midnight on Sunday.

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