It was late spring, 1970, and flower power was in full bloom. It was a magical time that inspired many people to believe that they could change the world. And change the world they did.
In those days, health foods could be found only in small shops, which were primarily vitamin stores. There wasn't much organic produce. There wasn't much of anything. But if you were inclined to eat something as strange as say yogurt or wheat germ, these items couldn't be found in your local supermarket. Only health food stores dabbled in such things.
This was the way the world was in the spring of 1970, when Michael Besancon, a young hippie and spiritual seeker, along with his wife, began a seven seat juice and sandwich bar, operating it as a concession in the back corner of a 1300 square foot health food store in Canoga Park, California.
The business was started with a whopping initial investment of $250 and twenty books of Green Stamps (redeemed for essentials). Plates, utensils and glassware, none of which matched, were garnered from the many thrift stores which dotted the neighborhood. The store was called Johnny Weismuller's American Natural Foods. Weismuller, star of the early Tarzan films and an Olympic swimming champion, had licensed his name to a manufacturer of vitamins which, in turn, operated a chain of stores. Local patrons affectionately referred to the place simply as "Johnny's".
Although the store sold meat, Michael's spiritual views were reflected in the food concession's lacto-vegetarian menu. The philosophy was to give generous portions of food, made the same way you'd prepare them at home, and to treat every person who came into the store as your brother or sister. An enormous avocado sandwich was $0.65, a cup of hearty soup was $0.20, and if you ordered "The Love Plate", you'd get both, plus a fresh juice, all for $1.00. Needless to say, it wasn't long before there was a line (literally) out the door.
In the spring of 1971, Michael accepted the job of store manager, and hired Bob Goldberg, a regular customer, to help with operating the food bar. Over the next couple of years, Bob brought in his friend Paul Lewin, and Michael recruited his old friend Spencer Windbiel to work in the burgeoning enterprise. In November 1973, the four pooled their resources, and bought the store. True to the fact that they were doing what they believed in, they named the store Follow Your Heart.
Disregarding the conventional wisdom of those in the health food industry, the partners decided to eliminate meat, poultry, and fish from the store. If that decision hurt business, it was never apparent. By 1976, the cafe had expanded to twenty-two seats, and the staff had grown to sixteen. A larger location was badly needed. Larry's Butcher Shop, the 7,000 square foot neighborhood market where we would go when our supply of ripe avocados ran low, was just becoming vacant, and only two blocks away. A handshake deal from a local bank manager who was a regular customers made the move possible.
The new store flourished. The restaurant grew to seventy-two seats, and the staff to around eighty people. Follow Your Heart ® had rapidly become one of the most successful independent natural food stores in the country. By 1982, a decision was made to open a second store in Santa Barbara, California. This store also was very successful for many years, but was later sold in 1997.
The four original founders ended their partnership in 1985, with Michael and Spencer leaving to pursue other interests, while Bob and Paul continue to run the company to this day. Later, building on the strengths of the market and cafe, Bob and Paul founded Earth Island, a nearby state-of-the-art and environmentally-friendly manufacturing facility relying on solar power to take their most successful products nationwide, including Vegenaise ® and Vegan Gourmet ® Cheese alternatives.
Over the years, countless individuals have made contributions to Follow Your Heart ® through their efforts. In the more than three decades that the store has been in existence, literally thousands of people have worked there. A handful, the core staff, who have chosen to stay and make a career of The Heart, have been responsible for carrying the flame of that original idea and philosophy into the present. They are the "Heart" of The Heart. Occasionally, people make the comment that Follow Your Heart ® is an "oasis". To the extent that this is true, it is indeed the legacy of those individuals who, through their work at Follow Your heart, dedicated themselves to that promise - to change the world.
In Pictures...
From 1945, when it was first built, until 1976 when we took it over, the current site of Follow Your Heart, at 21825 Sherman Way in Canoga Park, was occupied by Larry's Market and Butcher Shop. Notice the life-size steer on the top of the building, and the motto, "Never a Bum Steer" emblazoned across the store front.
If you look closely at the photograph below, you'll recognize our restaurant location before the conversion. Our counters replaced the meat cases, and our vegetarian kitchen took the place of a walk-in cooler and meat cutting room, complete with hooks and rails hanging from the ceiling. The butchers pictured here, with their band saws behind them, were kept busy supplying the neighborhood with meat, and would ring a cow bell when someone's purchase hit $100.
Over the years, Follow Your Heart ® has had to overcome many challenges. One of the most daunting occurred at 4:30:55 A.M. on January 17, 1994, when the Northridge Earthquake struck. Our store is located a scant four miles from the epicenter of that quake. The following gallery of pictures will give you a sample of what we found when we came into the store that morning. Of course we were there, passing out whatever food was salvageable to customers in the parking lot. Over the next year, while we rebuilt, those same customers supported us, and helped to pull us through.
