I was suspicious that that was the issue (thanks for finally trying to turn it off, LOL). It is apparent that Column Layout Grid and Short Description are not compatible. You'll need to delete this file: includes/modules/cherry_zen/product_listing.php, so that your zen cart uses your old product_listing file which should be the one that came in the short description mod. (includes/modules/product_listing.php).
Once you do that, you'll no longer be able to see the product in the column layout, they will only show up in rows one on top of the other like you have now. If you'd like to delete the option in the admin to choose columns (since you won't be able to use them), you can run this code below in "tools", "install sql patches":
Code:
delete from configuration where configuration_key in('PRODUCT_LISTING_LAYOUT_STYLE','PRODUCT_LISTING_COLUMNS_PER_ROW');
If you really want the columns, you'd need to either ask the short description creator to update the mod to work with column layout grid module, or turn off the short description.

But the column layout mod is
NOT required to run cherry zen.