Latest news with #HomeTownTakeover
Axios
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
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.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chelsea and Cole DeBoer Have Major News for 'Down Home Fab' Fans
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." One of HGTV fans' favorite couples is back for a new season. Although Chelsea and Cole DeBoer have appeared in several other HGTV shows like Home Town Takeover and the current season of Rock the Block, fans were especially eager to see the former Teen Mom star return to familiar territory—Down Home Fab. The couple confirmed that they'd be back for a new season of their hit series after wrapping up filming in February, but they left fans wondering when they'd actually be able to enjoy new episodes. Luckily, the DeBoers and HGTV have finally given us the answers we've been waiting for. View this post on Instagram A post shared by HGTV (@hgtv) The brand new season of Down Home Fab is premiering Tuesday, May 27 at 8/7c P.M. and each episode will be available to stream the next day on Max. Chelsea and Cole will once again showcase their signature blend of design and construction skills as they work to become their hometown's go-to home renovators. Of course, once the news dropped, fans quickly flooded the comments in excitement, writing, "YES FINALLY!!! We've been waiting too long 😭" and "Turn up for Tuesdays!!!!! 🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿." One new viewer even shared, "I never watch this show but seeing them on Rock the Block has me wanting to watch now 😍." With eight hour-long episodes, fans are in for a season unlike any other. As the couple continues to grow their business, open a home store, and coin a new "cowboy contemporary" design style, they'll have to also balance their busy family life. Just when they thought home renovations were their biggest challenge, they find themselves managing a newly-driving teenager, a Midwestern farm full of animals to care for, and the shocking discovery that a car has crashed into their new store just one week before the grand opening. Rest assured, it's not all drama. In the first episode, the duo helps a single mother of three update her outdated home after years of DIY projects. With a mix of heartwarming transformations, family moments, and unexpected twists, this season of Down Home Fab promises to be the most personal—and entertaining—yet. May 27 can't come soon enough! You Might Also Like 70 Impressive Tiny Houses That Maximize Function and Style 30+ Paint Colors That Will Instantly Transform Your Kitchen
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce leader, once featured on HGTV, talks to Blakely about downtown revitalization
BLAKELY – It was standing room only as Blakely and Early County residents crammed into downtown Blakely's Funny Girl Deli to hear from Shellie Phelps Whitfield Monday evening. Whitfield is the executive director of the Wetumpka, Ala., Area Chamber of Commerce and was featured on HGTV's 'Home Town Takeover' in 2020. She came to Blakely for a downtown visioning session, talking revitalization and economic development with eager community members. She did so by sharing the success story of Wetumpka. 'Tell everybody about what you see tonight,' David Atkins, the chairman of the Downtown Development Authority of Blakely, said to the crowd. 'This is what Blakely can be … like we were in the '60s and '70s. It's a great day for us.' Blakely's been on a multiyear journey to revitalize its historic downtown – a journey that's gained momentum since it was named a state Rural Zone in 2023, which creates tax incentives for job creation and investment. Restoring and renovating historic buildings and bringing new businesses are the primary goals. Susanne Reynolds, Blakely's DDA director, said the community's been passionate about revitalization. 'I think that hearing from other people who have done it, and seeing how they've done it, that gives them hope that it can happen here,' Reynolds said. Blakely's downtown makes a square shape, centered around the historic Court House building. Staff Photo: Lucille LanniganWhitfield shared the story of Wetumpka to a captivated Blakely audience. When the Colorado native first stumbled upon the town, most widely known for its appearance in the Tim Burton film 'Big Fish' – she said 40% of the downtown was boarded up. There were three businesses, one a hot dog restaurant that was open only for lunch time. The sidewalks were haphazard, resembling a 'patchwork quilt.' Whole lengths of streets were owned by the same people with little intention to put buildings back into use. 'It's like a little movie set,' Whitfield said Monday. 'Just like yours, it's like a little time capsule.' Whitfield learned from an initial conversation with a local economic developer that Wetumpka residents had been trying to revitalize their little town long before she arrived. 'She's telling me how much they love their town,' Whitfield said. 'How they've watched it dry up. How they want to bring it back to life.' Soon, Whitfield found herself moving her family to Wetumpka where she became deeply involved in 'breathing new life' into the town. Whitfield said the first step to revitalization is finding what makes a town unique and telling that story. For Wetumpka, that was its 5-mile-wide impact crater, which formed about 83 million years ago when a cosmic object struck. 'Nobody had been telling that story,' Whitfield said. 'People that lived there didn't even know about it.' So the city placed signage and turned it into an attraction. The Coosa River also flows through the town. Whitfield spearheaded marketing it as a rafting destination. The longer Whitfield stayed in Wetumpka, the more of its quirks she uncovered and helped the town to capitalize on: its Tulotoma snail, its Rosenwald school, its claim to being the birthplace of famous Southern artist Kelly Fitzpatrick. 'What makes you different is your superpower,' Whitfield said. Telling Wetumpka's story got it featured on Hometown Takeover, which helped further the town's revitalization. The crew from the show redid houses and established a farmers market. Soon, Wetumpka's downtown will be completely filled with business. The town just announced its last empty building will become an urban market. Reynolds said she hopes Whitfield's talk and Wetumpka's success story will make Blakely and Early residents believe the same is possible for their small town. It was standing room only in Funny Girl Deli as people packed in the shop to hear Shellie Phelps Whitfield talk. Staff Photo: Lucille LanniganReynolds said Blakely's special feature is its agriculture. Each year it hosts the Peanut Proud Festival, honoring the peanut industry and what it means to the community. On April 19, the town is hosting its first Downtown Blakely Farmers Market, which will run the third Saturday of each month until April. Reynolds said Blakely's unique, historic buildings and warehouses stand out as well, a feature Whitfield complimented. 'We have tons of buildings that can be activated that are unique assets to downtown,' she said. 'We have the perfect structure for a very thriving, traditional, Southern downtown.' One attendee brought up the Powell Opera House, which recently made the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation's 2025 list of 10 Places in Peril. This program seeks to preserve historic sites across the state that are threatened by demolition, neglect, lack of maintenance, inappropriate development or insensitive public policy. The building is privately owned and has been shuttered for almost a century. The DDA and Blakely community are in the early stages of brainstorming what the special space could become for the community. 'We have to be the generation that opens its doors again,' Reynolds said. Blakely native Mandy Chapman said the community's hospitality makes the town special. 'Everyone's very friendly, welcoming and supportive of each other,' she said. 'If we can collaborate our ideas and efforts, we can restore our town.' Whitfield said such action requires a 'dream team' of community members, a group made up of not only elected officials but also creatives, educators, business owners, grant writers, local historians and newcomers alike. 'We embraced what made us different, and we encouraged people to get in the boat and row in the same direction,' Whitfield said. Chapman, her husband Chad, and business partner Brad Waller bought the old Sawyer's shopping center about five years ago. The Blakely building had been boarded up for about 40 years. They're working to revitalize it as Wallchap Shopping Center, a complex that offers an affordable site for commercial businesses. They host Smith & Co., a boutique store; The Rodeo Cantina & Grill, a Mexican restaurant, and the Old Goat Soap Company, which moved into the space in late January. Chapman can recall times when Blakely's downtown was thriving with businesses — when 'everything you needed was right here' with little need to travel outside of town to shop. 'I would like to see Blakely flourish again as it did when I was a child,' she said. Whitfield said downtown revitalization changes the trajectories of communities. It creates business, and it creates tax dollars and money flowing to other areas of the community, including schools. 'Start in the middle and work outward,' she said. 'Economic impact helps everybody.'
Miami Herald
17-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- Miami Herald
This small Florida city ranks among nation's best places to retire. Here's why
A Florida destination has a 'slower pace' — but still boasts activities for retirees to enjoy, a new report finds. Now, the small city of Sebring ranks among the nation's top 50 places to retire, according to results published Tuesday, March 11. To create the list of best retirement destinations, Travel + Leisure magazine partnered with financial website Investopedia. Using data from the U.S. government and other sources, it studied counties across the country. Each place was evaluated across four metrics that may appeal to older adults: cost of living, access to travel, access to health care and access to entertainment. 'Editors considered a range of population densities and states to ensure readers have a variety of options,' the magazine wrote in its report. What makes the FL city ideal for retirement? Sebring was the only place in the Sunshine State to earn a spot on the list, called 'Destination: Retirement 2025.' The city of about 11,000 people is a roughly 85-mile drive south from Orlando. 'You won't find bustling nightlife or too many attractions in Sebring, but don't count this Florida town ... out just yet,' Travel + Leisure wrote in its report. 'In fact, it's exactly this slower pace, paired with a low cost of living, that makes it one of the best places to retire in the Southeast.' The magazine said residents can bask in warm weather while shopping downtown or attending events at the Sebring International Raceway. Meanwhile, Investopedia praised the city for being close to state parks and for having an 'extra appealing' median housing cost of less than $800 a month. 'Sebring, located in Florida's Highlands County, is an excellent option for retirees hoping to take advantage of Florida's retirement-friendly tax policies without fighting off spring breakers or steep price tags to enjoy the outdoors or one of the many fine or casual dining restaurants,' the financial website wrote in its report. The city, which also offers access to hospitals and activities on nearby lakefronts, has gotten a recent boost. Several of Sebring's homes and businesses have been renovated on the HGTV show 'Home Town Takeover,' according to the Visit Florida tourism website. 'Sebring's history of hurricane damage and an excess of empty storefronts in the once bustling downtown shopping district have proven to be challenging obstacles, and, despite being home to one of the nation's oldest raceways, spectators leave without patronizing any local businesses,' the TV show wrote on its website, adding that its hosts worked with local leaders on the revitalization project. Nationwide, destinations in several states were named top places for retirees to live. The winners weren't listed in ranked order, a Travel + Leisure spokesperson told McClatchy News via email.
Fox News
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
HGTV stars rebuilding Florida town say Americans crave slower, simpler lifestyle
HGTV stars Ben and Erin Napier believe Americans are "craving" slower and simpler lifestyles. The Napiers, who star in HGTV's "Home Town Takeover," set out to renovate the small Florida town of Sebring, which they "fell in love with immediately." "It was built as a resort town before the coasts of Florida were really getting developed and blown up," Ben told Fox News Digital. "Before the theme parks, and that is the old Florida that our grandparents went [to] on vacation," Erin added. "We see all their photos. I have my grandparents' photos from going to those parts of Florida, and we want it back." "I think there's a lot of us who are craving slower, simpler, less is more," Erin explained. "We want a beautiful lake and a quiet town to go have a really great meal." Season three of "Home Town Takeover," which premiered March 9, focused on the personal stories of those living in Sebring. The home builders worked with a kindergarten teacher. The single mom had purchased a historic house that had belonged to her own kindergarten teacher. "That story alone was just like this magical storybook small town," Ben said. Her story is "about how we're influenced and impacted hugely in young childhood by the best teachers," Erin added. WATCH: HGTV STARS SAY AMERICANS CRAVE SLOWER, SIMPLER LIFESTYLE Ben and Erin found themselves with the challenge of balancing veterans dealing with PTSD with the "escapism" of HGTV. "We worked with a couple who are helping veterans who are dealing with PTSD and suicide prevention. That was some heavy, heavy stuff," Erin said. "There were a couple times we had meetings where we kind of pulled back, and we're like, 'OK. How much of this can we tell on HGTV?' Because it's, you know what I mean? It's where you go to escape. It's escapism TV," Ben explained. "But that was a really heavy subject that we covered." They noted that the couple's door is "always open" and sometimes get calls at three in the morning and are always "ready to welcome people into their home." "And it's important for their own mental health that that home is a place where they can at least recharge at some point," Erin added. "And so that was our main focus. How do we make this house that felt dark and drab feel lighter? Because the burden that they carry is already so heavy. You don't want your house to add to that." Erin and Ben have been together for 20 years. The couple met in 2004, while Erin was a sophomore in college. Erin had a crush on Ben before they officially met, as she previously shared in a series of Instagram posts. According to Erin, the two fell in love over the course of six days. "By December 13, [Ben] had met both my parents," Erin wrote on Instagram. "He had no money, no prospects, and they knew that and they both loved him instantly anyway and said so – they'd never even pretended to tolerate any boys before that. We'd been inseparable for 6 days. His shirts all had my lip gloss imprinted on the chest because I wasn't used to hugging someone so tall yet." "We never stopped talking. We had 19 and 21 years to catch up on, and there was no detail too trivial. Ben says his mom told him 'you marry the one you never want to stop talking to.' So 6 days after meeting, and 2 days before we would be on a one month Christmas break apart, he told me 'I think I'm in love with you.' and I said 'I'm in love with you too.' 'I'm going to marry you,' he told me – 'Yes. That sounds perfect,' I told him." Years later, the couple's TV show "Home Town" premiered in January 2016 as Ben and Erin worked to restore the town of Laurel, Mississippi. The show features the couple working to restore historical homes with found materials and old textiles in their own hometown. WATCH: HGTV STARS SHOW YOU CAN 'LIVE THE DREAM' IN A SMALL TOWN Ben and Erin hope their projects show what it's really like to live in a small town. "People just have it in their mind what it is to live in a small town and what it isn't," Erin previously told Fox News Digital. "And I hope that the more you watch 'Home Town,' the more you see that you can live the dream." "You can have your hot sauce and salsa farm in the middle of town, and you can build a school for children who are underserved. You can do anything in a small town. And that's the story that's so fun to tell for us." "Home Town Takeover" airs Sundays on HGTV.
