Hasty's
When I was a kid in High School at Kelton, coming to Shamrock and hanging out with my friends at Hasty’s was a given. Hasty’s was where I learned to love vanilla, cream Dr. Pepper, a cheeseburger just the way I liked it, or a chili cheese burrito. Later in my life when my husband was in the Navy, coming home to visit always meant Mama’s home cooking and food from Hasty’s. Well, my husband retired from the Navy and my family moved back to Shamrock in 2010. My kids were going to have the same memories as I did because Hasty’s was a weekly meal for us. Sadly, Linda Alison became ill and Hasty’s shut its doors in 2013. For several years, our community and even frequent travelers who were familiar with the establishment missed the iconic place we all had known and loved for decades.
However, God wasn’t ready for Hasty’s to stay closed. On July 29, 2017, Marjie and Jeff Shortnacy opened the doors for a whole new generation to love. I had the pleasure of sitting with Marjie, Gail Bonner, and Tracy Gilleland about this adventure they had undertaken. Marjie said that when they opened the doors some of the old crew came to train them and prepare them for running the business. She said her goal was to keep Hasty’s as close to the original as possible because that was the best way to honor what so many people had grown to love through the years.
For the most part, the menu has been what it has always been and with some new and delicious items added. When the doors opened, Marjie, Gayle, and Tracy, all told me that patrons came in and already knew what they wanted. With that said, the new items have become new favorites for a lot of people. For example, a very popular item is the Frank Johnson Burrito which has chicken, ham, bacon, potatoes, grilled onions, grilled jalapenos, ranch and cheese. And, if you are watching your weight, you can get a Keto combo which is grilled chicken and zucchini. The regulars, both past and present, have their afternoon coffee. Some afternoons they are in the mood to eat along with their coffee and know what food they want without looking at the menu. After a person has had their favorite meal on the menu, they can also have a delicious homemade dessert. The homemade desserts include brownies, Rice Krispy bars, banana pudding, and peach cobbler and they are all made by Jeanette Batenhorst. These desserts are so good and popular that they stay in demand every day.
Hasty’s has been back in business for over seven years now, and they continue to make their mark on our great community. Marjie said they all notice when their elderly regulars haven’t been in for a few days, and they will call to check on them to make sure they are okay or see if they need anything. They love to support the youth organizations in town any way they can, whether it is by donating items needed for concession stands or helping out with some meals. They have also had fundraisers for people in the community in need of donations for medical purposes or travel purposes due to medical treatments. When the fundraisers happen, they sell out quick and the funds raised are always a success. This is because everyone knows that if the food comes from Hasty’s it’s going to be good, and the cause is going to help and support someone from our community.
Marjie and the crew at Hasty’s began with the goal of adding a local business to our community, preserving the memory of an establishment from our history, and contributing to the efforts of making our community better. They have been very successful in all their goals. The atmosphere is cheerful, welcoming, and positive at Hasty’s. Go by and say hello and try some of the great food or fresh homemade desserts they have to offer. This is a small local business deserving of our support.