Radiant Radish facts for kids
The Radiant Radish in 1969
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| Industry | Grocery store, health food store |
|---|---|
| Fate | Bankruptcy |
| Founded | 1969 in West Hollywood, U.S. |
| Founders | Brian Wilson, Steve Korthoff, Arny Geller. |
| Defunct | July 29, 1970 |
| Products | Natural organic vegetarian food, supplements, and herbs |
The Radiant Radish was a special health food store. It was in West Hollywood, California. It was open from 1969 to 1970. Brian Wilson from the famous band the Beach Boys helped run it. His cousin Steve Korthoff and friend Arny Geller were also managers.
Contents
Starting the Radiant Radish
Brian Wilson was a member of the Beach Boys. He opened this small health food store in mid-1969. He started it with his cousin, Steve Korthoff, and his friend, Arny Geller.
How it was Funded
The store was started with $15,000. This money would be worth about $120,000 today. Before this, Brian Wilson was very interested in physical fitness. His band even had a song called "Vegetables" in 1967.
A Photo Shoot for "Vegetables"
When Brian planned to release "Vegetables" as a single, he did a fun photo shoot. He posed in front of a fruit and vegetable stand. This was at the Los Angeles Farmers Market. It was very close to where he later opened the Radiant Radish.
How the Store Operated
The Radiant Radish did not have regular hours. Brian Wilson would open the store whenever he felt like it. This was usually at night. He would often work at the counter in his pajamas, bathrobe, and slippers.
Brian's Shopping Habits
Brian would sometimes buy a lot of his own store's products. He would spend up to $1,000 on items. This would be like spending $8,000 today.
A Visit from a Journalist
Journalist Tom Nolan once visited the store. He found Brian Wilson alone and wearing a bathrobe. Brian would not sell him a bottle of Vitamin B-12. He told Nolan he needed a doctor's note first.
What People Thought
Tom Nolan wrote about this visit in a 1971 magazine story. Biographer Peter Ames Carlin later wrote about it too. He said people were surprised to see a millionaire rock star selling vitamins. Brian Wilson was famous for writing hit songs like "Good Vibrations".
Why the Store Closed
The Radiant Radish closed on July 29, 1970. It closed because it was not making money. Brian Wilson was not very good at running a business.
Brian's Favorite Part
In 2015, Brian Wilson was asked what he liked most about the store. He said, "The cash register."
Meeting Jack Rieley
On the day the store closed, Brian met Jack Rieley. Jack Rieley later became the manager for the Beach Boys. He also wrote many songs with Brian for a short time.
The Radiant Radish in Pop Culture
- In 1970, the Beach Boys recorded a song by Brian Wilson. It was called "H.E.L.P. Is On the Way". This song mentions the Radiant Radish in its words. It was not released until 1993. It was part of a box set called Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of the Beach Boys.
- In 1990, the store was shown in a drawing. This drawing was on the cover of a tribute album. The album was called Smiles, Vibes & Harmony: A Tribute to Brian Wilson.
