Hardin Local E41: Zaxby's, a Rage Room and Glow-O-Ween

What We Covered This Week

It was a smaller crew this week. Jon O'Brien and Britten McDowell were out, so Rachel Brantingham, Grafton Sizemore and Nate Bryan had the table to themselves, and Rachel and Grafton tag-teamed the events calendar. "We love all of our other co-hosts," Rachel said, "but it is the three of us."

Nate had a big week of openings and one closing, the week ahead is built around Mali-BOO Jack's Glow-O-Ween and the Glendale Crossing Festival, Rachel brought the housing numbers, and Grafton closed with a Money Move about where your financial advice is really coming from. Before any of that, the Icebreaker went to Halloween: Grafton's two-costume disguise at his own college party, Nate's case for an ice rink in Etown, and Rachel's story about the scariest thing she has ever found while showing a house.

Congratulations to Lesley Dever McConn, who won four tickets to Mali-BOO Jack's Glow-O-Ween in our giveaway. Thanks to everyone who entered.

In This Episode

Zaxby's and a Rage Room Open This Week, and Tolle Totum Goes Mobile

Nate's Business Buzz

Zaxby's by Sacred Heart, Splatter & Shatter downtown, JD Sports at City Center, new signs on the old mall, Beignets & Brew aiming for December, and Tolle Totum closing its storefront to go mobile.

Glow-O-Ween, Glendale Crossing and a Week of Halloween: Your Week in Hardin County

Hardin County This Week, with Rachel Brantingham and Grafton Sizemore

October 12 to 18: Mali-BOO Jack's Glow-O-Ween on Friday from 6 to 10 PM, the Monster Dash 5K, Spooky Movies at the State Theater, the Parade of Homes and the Glendale Crossing Festival on Saturday. Malibu Jack's is a paid Hardin Local sponsor for this feature.

Contracts Rebound From 17 to 24 as Multiple Offers Return

Hardin County Housing Market, with Rachel Brantingham

24 homes went under contract last week, up from 17, with 423 active listings and 4.3 months of inventory. Rachel breaks it down by price range and explains what sellers should do before they list.

Money Moves with G: Who Are You Taking Money Advice From?

Money Moves with G, with Grafton Sizemore

A million views is not a credential. Grafton Sizemore on vetting the money advice in your feed: start local, do your own research, and if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Next week: pre-approvals.

Election Day Is Tuesday, November 3

Phil Taul walked through the Hardin Local 2026 voter guide this week. Every contested race in Hardin County has its own page, laid out the same way for every candidate, and if a candidate sat down for an interview, the video is right there on that race's page, with more being added every week until Election Day. Every candidate who registered by the deadline was offered an interview.

The guide also has a find-your-ballot page with the dates you need: absentee ballot requests close Tuesday, October 20; no-excuse early voting runs Thursday, October 29 through Saturday, October 31; and on Election Day, polls are open 6 AM to 6 PM at any vote center in the county. It is non-partisan and free.

Episode Highlights

"Signing up is free. HardinLocal.com. I literally visit the website multiple times throughout the week." - Rachel Brantingham

"So for 30 minutes to an hour, everybody was asking, who's this Iron Man guy?" - Grafton Sizemore, on the best Halloween costume he ever wore

"Because of where Etown sits, people no longer would have to go to Louisville." - Nate Bryan, on why Hardin County could support an ice rink

Tell Us What the Sports Portal Is Missing

If you have a high school athlete, check out the sports portal on the Hardin Local website and tell us what you think of it. Rachel asked again at the close of the show.

Keep Hardin Local Going

This Week's Sponsor: philtaul.com

Phil Taul builds AI automation for local businesses: not chatbots, but the boring stuff that quietly eats your week. His example, kept anonymous: a multi-location auto group went from 20 to 30 hours a week of title data entry to two or three hours a week of review, and it catches errors the manual process missed. A person still reviews everything.

The way in is a Workflow Roadmap Session: 90 minutes, then a written roadmap within three business days, including what to leave alone. It is $450, credited in full if you have Phil build something within 30 days. Just get in touch at philtaul.com/consulting.

One More Show

Bourbon Local, Hardin Local's sister show about bourbon and the people who make it, airs Sundays at 9 PM ET. This week's episode was canceled due to a last-minute host schedule change, and it is back next Sunday.

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