My visit to Sebring, Florida after HGTV's "Home Town Takeover"
I arrived in Sebring on a Tuesday afternoon, on a pilgrimage I didn't realize I was part of until I started chatting with the other folks wandering around the muraled walls and historic buildings of the city's downtown.
Why it matters: We were here for the same reason: to experience what it's like after HGTV unleashes its feel-good renovation machine on an entire town.
The big picture: Also known as "The City on the Circle" for the round park anchoring its downtown district, Sebring, about 80 miles east of Bradenton, starred in season 3 of " Home Town Takeover," which premiered in March.
The show is hosted by Ben and Erin Napier, whose work restoring historic homes in their hometown of Laurel, Mississippi, landed them a show on HGTV. "Home Town" took off, and a decor line, book deals and spinoffs ensued.
The premise of "Home Town Takeover" is to transform a struggling small town into a destination by revamping businesses, homes and community spaces.
State of play: Sebring, nestled among farms and orange groves at least 90 minutes from any major metro area, is known for its international raceway and the annual soda festival that began in 2018.
But since U.S. 27 began siphoning drivers away from the town's historic downtown, the district dwindled from 22 businesses in the 1960s to 11 last year, the Napiers and various community leaders explain in episode 1.
Zoom in: On my weekday visit, The Circle appeared an afterthought no more.
A line spilled out the door at Sophie's Cafe, a local Cuban restaurant featured in the show that opened its second location in a historic former church with the mix of old charm and modern touches the Napiers are famous for.
A steady stream of patrons stopped for root beer (or, in my case, cream soda) floats at Sebring Soda & Ice Cream Works, which in the season premiere underwent a makeover from drab tans and browns to pastels and stripes that make it feel like a vintage drugstore.
And at any given time, a dozen people milled around Circle Park, actually using the cornhole boards, ping pong table, gazebo and tables added to the lawn over the course of the show.
What they're saying:"It's been a steady flow of people from all over the country and even outside the country," Nancy Lombardo, owner of antique and souvenir shop Pieces of the Past, told me.
After struggling with a lack of foot traffic for years, she reopened the day before the show's March 9 premiere. Her Sebring-branded mugs, magnets and more have been flying off the shelves, she said.
I was honestly surprised by the amount of activity for a random weekday afternoon — but I shouldn't have been.
It's in line with the tourism booms experienced by the communities featured in the first two seasons of the show.
Yes, but: Is it sustainable? Walking among the cardboard cutouts of the Napiers and the "Welcome to Sebring, HGTV fans!" signs, it was hard to decouple the city from the HGTV-ification of it all.
Maybe that's the point.
I considered this over a beer at Faded Bistro & Beer Garden, a restaurant nestled in a lush tropical courtyard a few blocks off the "Home Town" buzz on The Circle.
It opened in 2017 and this year got its own taste of national recognition with a USA TODAY award for No. 5 best beer garden in the country.
The bottom line: Sebring isn't on your way to somewhere. It is somewhere — whether the cameras are there or not.
If you go: Here are more spots to check out.
Food and drink
🍻 Try local brews, spirits and burgers at the 301.
☕ Get your caffeine fix at Sweetwater Coffee Company.
🍳 Indulge in a home-cooked breakfast at Dee's Place.
🥪 Stop for sandwiches at Mae Lee's Deli.
🍕 Grab a slice at Dimitri's.
🧁 You deserve a treat at Sugar Blossoms.
Shopping
🛋️ Peruse vintage furniture, home decor and more at the Habitat ReStore.
🃏 Tap into your inner game nerd at Dino's Cards and Collectibles.
📚 Find your next favorite read at Linda's Books.
💎 Shop or take a crafting workshop at the Grateful Hearts Boutique.
Activities
🏖️ Have a freshwater beach day at Lake Jackson.
🍿 Catch a movie or show at the Circle Theatre.
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