Since launching our HWLT HEART campaign just a couple of weeks ago, the nominations for Arizona’s favorite local restaurants have been rolling in! It is so wonderful to see people coming together to help those who need it in this trying time. We were incredibly excited to announce our 3rd winner, Shorty and Wag’s Chicken Wings!
Shorty and Wags first originated in Minnesota, founded by two friends known as Uncle Shorty and Uncle Wags. For 37 years, they operated the restaurant, which was made famous by their delicious family chicken recipe. Sadly, they closed down the Minnesota location in 2011, but the next generation of the family wasn’t quite ready to move on. Instead, they moved to Gilbert and reopened the restaurant only two and a half years later – much to the delight of everyone in Gilbert!
The current owner of Shorty and Wags was incredibly grateful for the nominations from her wonderful patrons. Once the restaurant was announced as the winner, the orders rolled in. In fact, many of her regulars called in the day before to place their orders early!
Usually, Shorty and Wags closes at 8 pm, but with the high influx of calls and orders, the family decided to stay an hour late to make sure all orders were filled. They are all incredibly grateful to everyone who stopped by and offered support. With their customers and dedicated regulars calling in orders, they were able to surpass the $4,000 goal! Moreover, they had their busiest day since they first opened in Gilbert.
We are so happy that we were able to provide this opportunity to Shorty and Wags. We hope that customers continue to call in orders and help keep this iconic restaurant booming! Our HWLT HEART campaign is still running, and we encourage everyone to nominate their favorite Arizonan restaurants.