HGTV's 'Bargain Block,' filmed in Detroit, is back for second season

As the second season of their hit HGTV show set in Detroit kicks off, design duo Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas say viewers won't just see homes being transformed but a spotlight shined on the city itself.

On Wednesday, the second season of the couple's show, "Bargain Block," premiered on HGTV, following them as they continue to transform abandoned or rundown homes in specific Detroit neighborhoods to boost the values of an entire block. New episodes air every Wednesday at 9 p.m. and are also available to stream on Discovery+.

"We've been working really hard and we're excited to make Detroit a bigger character," said Bynum, who is originally from Texas. "We are so excited to get to see it come to life."

This time around, "Bargain Block" follows Bynum, who handles the design elements and aesthetics of each project, and Thomas, who does much of the carpentry work, as they renovate 16 homes in Detroit. Wednesday's episode focused on transforming two homes side-by-side after they'd been vacant for decades. One had extensive water damage because of several holes in the roof. They gave one house a Hamptons makeover and the other a "Gatsby" look based on 1920s glam.

Ten one-hour episodes are planned for the second season, which again will feature local real estate expert Shea Hicks-Whitfield.

“Keith, Evan and Shea have a deep passion for the city of Detroit and their commitment to revitalizing homes there has resonated with millions of HGTV fans,” said Jane Latman, president of HGTV & Streaming Home Content, Discovery Inc., in a press release.

"Bargain Block" debuted in April 2021 and is unique for HGTV in that it focuses on renovating smaller, starter homes, many of which Bynum and Thomas purchase for as low as $1,000, renovate and then sell for around $100,000. Its first season attracted more than 20.2 million viewers.

Bynum and Thomas met in graduate school in Colorado. They'd been flipping homes there when Bynum decided to travel to Detroit in 2017, which had been on his radar for its art scene, to check it out. He convinced Thomas to follow him to start renovating homes there.

Detroit "was always popping up as a cool art spot," said Bynum in April of 2021. "...It just has this really cool energy."

During the first season of "Bargain Block," they primarily focused on renovating vacant, rundown homes in two neighborhoods  — one at Livernois and Eight Mile and another off M-39, or the Southfield Freeway.

Since their HGTV debut, Bynum and Evan have opened a new retail location for their store, Nine Design + Homes, 21612 Grand River Ave. in Detroit. They also recently launched a new line of art accessories through the store's website. 

Now, with the two firmly planted in not just Detroit but also on HGTV (they also competed on the network's "Rock the Block" show earlier this spring), Bynum can't wait to share the new season with viewers.

"I'm so proud of this season," he said.

mfeighan@detroitnews.com

'Bargain Block' Season Two

9 p.m. Wednesdays on HGTV.

Also streaming on Discovery+