Kenneth Belle and Laurence Short
Nate Kaeding’s restaurant Short’s Burger and Shine has been open for about a year and a half but the NFL kicker has a long way to go before his version of Short’s outlasts the previous business named Short’s that was at that same location.
Half-brothers Laurence Short and Kenneth Belle opened Short’s Shoe Shop at 18 S. Clinton St. in 1921 becoming the city’s first black business owners. The shoe shine, which they operated with Short’s father, Haywood, remained in business until 1970.
Haywood Short came to Iowa City in 1893 as a young man and never left. Haywood operated the Shoe Shine and Bath Department at Whittaker’s Barber Shop on South Clinton Street. Iowa City historian Irving Weber wrote in 1978 that daring University of Iowa sorority sisters used to go to Whittaker’s to get their shoes shined.
“However, many felt a bit uncomfortable doing so,” Weber wrote. “This prompted some of the sororities to urge the Shorts and Belle to establish a shoe store and shoe repair shop where they could feel comfortable. They pledged their support if a shop were established.”
As thus, Short’s Shoe Shop was born. Although Haywood short died in 1947, the half-brothers continued to run the business until they retired in 1970.
According to his obituary, Laurence Short remained a fixture in the Iowa City community and was known for his long walks through Iowa City and Coralville. He also became a frequent international traveler. Before he died, Short traveled to Europe, Africa, South America and Asia.
Thirty years later, the building remains in the family. Kenneth’s son, Haywood Belle, is the building’s landlord. Belle donated a shoe shine chair to Kaeding’s restaurant that is used as a hostess stand, menu holder and, at night, the place for an employees to check IDs.