AMSTERDAM — Shorty’s Southside Tavern in Amsterdam is expected to reopen in March under new ownership.
Owners Christopher and Jaime Giglio hope to announce what day in the near future.
“We’re very excited. Little nervous. It’s a whole different venture,” Christopher Giglio said. “I have a construction company and my wife does hair, so this is a whole different ball game. But we’ve got good people around us.”
Christopher Giglio has always wanted to own this business, he said. Located on Amsterdam’s South Side, at 51 Broad St., Christopher Giglio says he grew up going there with his parents, and later worked at Shorty’s.
Shorty’s Southside Tavern was first established in 1948. It closed in September, and Christopher Giglio said he got a phone call in November asking if he was still interested.
New owners Christopher and Jaime Giglio will be reopening Shorty's in Amsterdam in the coming weeks
“I talked to my wife, and she knew I wanted to do it,” Christopher Giglio said. “And that was it.”
The restaurant will have the same type of food, Christopher Giglio said. The business offers a wide variety of grinders, salads, burgers, wings, different specials and more.
“The biggest thing is we’re going to be open for lunch,” Christopher Giglio said. “My whole drive for this place was to be open during the day because nobody is open for lunch anymore. Most places don’t open until three or four o’clock, and there wasn’t many places to go for lunch.”
The restaurant will be open Monday and Thursday from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., and on Sunday from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.
The eatery will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The couple has refinished the outside of the restaurant, repainted the inside, and gotten new equipment. Christopher Giglio said they have done some small, cosmetic touch-ups.
“It’s going to be a fun, friendly place to hang out,” Christopher Giglio said. “We know a lot of people in the area, and it’s going to have great food.”
The restaurant’s head chef will be Bill Pereicich, the former head chef of the 518 Grille in Amsterdam.
“It’s going to be a great time -- and great food that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg,” Christopher Giglio said. “You can bring your family and it’s not going to cost you a fortune to eat.”
