Niel & Shorty’s opens 
at Hunter’s Ridge

PRINCETON — After competing in statewide barbecue contests and having some success, Maura and Shawn Nichols recently decided to open a restaurant serving barbecue-style food.

Niel & Shorty’s BBQ Co. is open five days a week at Hunter’s Ridge Golf Course on Route 26 southeast of Princeton.

The Nichols came up with the unique name for their restaurant by using their sons’ nicknames. Fifteen-year-old Ian’s nickname is Shorty, and 19-year-old Noel’s nickname is Niel.

“We tried several names before this,” said Shawn. “It just clicked and sounded good.”

Sweet style barbecue specialties at Niel & Shorty’s are brisket, pulled pork, baby back ribs, chicken and more.

“We can also accommodate golf outings and large groups of people in the ballroom here,” he added.

Niel & Shorty’s is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

“We investigated a few locations in town, and this fell in place,” said Shawn Nichols, who has lived all of his life in Princeton and grew up golfing on Hunter’s Ridge Golf Course. “This is a neat building.”

This is the first time the Nicholses have ever run a restaurant, said Shawn, who indicated what started out as a hobby competing in barbecue contests on the weekend eventually evolved into a livelihood after he lost his job.

“We competed with 72 other teams at the state barbecue contest in Shannon and had a handful of Top 10 finishes. We had a seventh place in pork, sixth place in brisket and ninth in sausage,” he said.

“Her (Maura) father talked us into going, and every year we tried harder by entering a few more categories. At the end, we were competing in every category,” he said.

Niel & Shorty’s phone number is 815-875-4276. Attire can be casual at Niel & Shorty’s and the public is invited, added Nichols.

Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.