HGTV’s HOME TOWN Brings Visitors to Laurel, Mississippi
By Moveiguide® Contributor
HGTV stars Erin and Ben Napier put Laurel Mississippi back on the map with their hit series HOME TOWN.
Southern Living reported, “When we all came home from college—Mallorie and Jim Rasberry, Emily and Josh Nowell, Ben, and me—we were the only people who lived downtown,” Erin recalled.
“It was just us and the feral cats. For the six of us, all in our twenties, it was like a game: How can we make downtown Laurel feel alive again?”
“We all did what we could,” Erin added. “Josh had done some real estate development. He had a bird’s-eye view. Ben and I were the storytellers. I would take photos of a corner downtown that people might overlook. I kept a journal online, and I mocked up some murals in Photoshop. We put some lights in the trees and had these potluck parties and invited our friends from Hattiesburg. We were just like, ‘Yeah, Laurel’s a cool place—you didn’t know?'”
Erin went on to explain that every single person played a part in putting Laurel back on top.
“You need the accountants and the lawyers to make sure grants are done properly, and you need the preachers and the teachers who can gather volunteers from the churches and schools.”
The Advocate reported of Laurel, “The Napiers’ two downtown businesses — Laurel Mercantile Co. and Scotsman General Store & Woodshop — are must-sees, too. Laurel Mercantile sells everything from souvenir T-shirts to prints of Erin Napier’s artwork. Down by the railroad tracks, Ben Napier’s Scotsman is a one-stop shop for souvenirs, clothing, kitchen supplies including wooden cutting boards crafted by the TV star and his team, candy, a room full of cold drinks, ice cream and Ben Napier-branded food products including coffees.”
Moveiguide® recently reported on the Napier’s commemorating 100th episode of HOME TOWN:
“Last night we got to celebrate the 100th episode of #HGTVHomeTownwith most everyone who has ever been part of it. Hundreds of faces. Every homeowner from 7 seasons, our crew and producers and @hgtv were there and it felt like a second wedding for us. To be in a very crowded room and know every single face and have clear memories of them all is overwhelming, and I realized how important it is to so many people’s livelihoods that God saw fit to put @scotsman.co and I together when we were 19 and 21 years old. We are so deeply honored that we get to be part of Home Town and in your living rooms every week. Only 2.5% of shows make 100 episodes. Ben pointed out this makes him basically the Tom Selleck to our Blue Bloods. 😆😍.”
