The Skinny on Lorton's Skinifatz Nightspot

Have you been to one of Lorton's most charming watering holes? Business is slow at Lorton's Skinifatz Nightspot, but that's usually how it is in the summer. 

"We don't know when to quit," said owner Glen Gates. "We're survivors and we have a good product. We have a good atmosphere."

The restaurant and bar, which sits atop the hill at 10712 Richmond Hwy. (at the Lorton-Woodbridge border) gets obscured by the growth of the trees in the warmer months. Even it's sister business next door, the Lazy Susan Dinner Theater, is closed for the rest of the season. 

"It's quiet, but it's also summertime," said general manager Carol Kaldenbach. "But isn't this quaint? It's not your metal and chrome and glass club, but it's comfy, homey, relaxed. You can really 'Boot Scootin' Boogie' in here."

The nightspot (you can't call it a night club, because those are illegal in Virginia) plays everything from country western to hip hop. It first opened in 1955 as the Lazy Susan Inn. Every table had a lazy susan on it loaded with condiments for dinner, and it was full of antiques that were sold at the building next door, which would one day become the dinner theater. Skinifatz opened in 1979. 

"For a long time we were the only game in town," said owner Glen Gates. "This was before I-95. If you were coming from DC, then you could be here in 20 minutes. Shirley Highway ended and fed into Rt. 1 right here. But in 1969, Virginia adopted liquor by the drink and more businesses opened up and put us in competition with them."

Skinifatz has one of the best sound systems in the area for karaoke.  

"No one can touch us with karaoke," said manager Donn Erikson. "We have the best sound system in the area. If you can sing we will make you sound good."

Skinifatz is perhaps also known for its good, inexpensive food. A 3/4 pound burger with fries or onion rings will run you $7.25 and a 12 oz. New York strip with all the trimmings is $10.25 on steak night (Wednesday). 

But Gates has no children, and the Lazy Susan Dinner Theater and Skinifatz will close one day. 

"Taxes are brutal for a business like ours. The land is more valuable for other things," said Gates. "The business is old, the facility is old, I'm old and I'm not going to live forever. I will eventually get older and more tired. But we're here now, and we're going strong."

When was the last time you went to Skinifatz Nightspot? Tell us about it in the comments!  

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