Hardin Local Weekly S2026E13: Radcliff Boom + Sam's Gyros
Full crew, full energy, full calendar. Radcliff's restaurant boom, a Sam's Gyros rave review, an accelerating housing market, and Easter events across Hardin County.
What We Covered This Week
This was a full-crew, full-energy episode. Rachel, Phil, Scott, Jon, Nate, and Britten were all in the studio — the first time the whole team has been together in several weeks — and you could feel it. The conversation flowed, the segments hit, and the calendar was stacked.
The episode opened with a last-minute icebreaker switch. The planned question about overrated things got shelved because Rachel hadn't heard of the new topic — The Breakfast Club. Jon took the lead and walked the crew through which character they'd identify with. Phil was the assistant principal. Britten was the brain. Rachel penciled the movie in for her next movie night. Spring announcements included Phil's 75 Hard update — day 52, down 43 pounds — and birthday shoutouts for Renee Sullivan and Glenn Downs of The Plumbing Doctor.
From there, every segment delivered. Radcliff is booming, the housing market is accelerating, Sam's Gyros got a glowing review, and the weekend event calendar is one of the fullest of the spring.
In This Episode
Hardin County Events: Easter Egg Hunts, Food Trucks, and a Packed Weekend
Hardin County This Week — with Jon O'Brien
Jon ran through a weekend loaded with family-friendly events, headlined by Saturday's Best of the Heartland Food Truck Championship at the Hardin County Fairgrounds in Glendale — 21 trucks, free admission, Easter egg hunt on site. Tonight's Spring Block Party on North Main, three Easter egg hunts Saturday, a murder mystery dinner, wine tasting, and live music round out one of the busiest weekends of the spring.
Read the full Events article →
Radcliff's Restaurant Pipeline Is Booming
Nate's Business Buzz
Nate led with a Radcliff double play — Jersey Mike's and Firehouse Subs both coming to town, joining Wingstop, Dairy Queen, Wawa, and General Fo's already in the pipeline. Two new sweet food trucks are launching. A rare Ohtani card pull made waves at Lincoln Center. And Vine Grove opened a new B&B while the Taylor Swift Airbnb in E-town is closing.
Read the full Business Buzz article →
Housing Market Picks Up Speed: 87 Days on Market
Hardin County Housing Market — with Rachel Brantingham
Days on market dropped to 87 from a starting point of 98. Inventory is being absorbed as fast as it hits. 4.7 months of inventory puts the county in seller-leaning territory, but buyers are negotiating effectively. Rachel's message: this is a smart market, and both sides can win with the right strategy. Sellers should list 3 to 5 percent below top dollar.
Read the full Housing Market article →
Sam's Gyros Gets the Experienced Eater Stamp of Approval
The Experienced Eater — Britten & Michele McDowell
Britten went solo this week and came back raving about Sam's Gyros. The mixed gyro plate with lamb and chicken for $16 delivered tender meat, bold seasoning, and massive portions. Michele's $10 sandwich was overflowing. Rachel confirmed it from her own visit — she ate one plate over three meals. Two locations in Radcliff and Elizabethtown, open less than a year. Go try it.
Read the full Experienced Eater review →
Episode Highlights
"Lamb is tender. It's flavorful. Chicken's got all the seasoning on it. It's fantastic. That's a great plate."
— Britten, The Experienced Eater (on Sam's Gyros)
"Radcliff's food game is about to ramp up pretty quick. I know people always say, well, how come E-town gets everything? Well, stuff's coming."
— Nate, Business News Host
"This is a smart market. Not a chaotic one. Not a frozen one. A smart one."
— Rachel, Host and Housing Market Expert
"Not a minute later."
— Jon, Events Host (on the Radcliff Optimists Easter Egg Hunt starting promptly at 11:10)
"I ate it over three meals, actually. It's an incredible amount of food and it was so fresh and delicious."
— Rachel, Host (on Sam's Gyros)
