Friends are calling it “The Christmas Miracle on Main Street.”
   Robert and Victoria Bradley are owners of a brand new health food business—Ramona Family Naturals.
They signed their lease for part of the old Ace Hardware store at 642 Main St. in August, opened for business on Oct. 29, but ran into so many challenges that by the first week in December there was only one week of money left and they were looking at closing their store.
   “And then,” said Robert Bradley, “God stepped in.
   “We never asked for help, but people suddenly started coming out of the woodwork—electricians, contractors, plumbers, all volunteering their time, work and in many cases the materials to make sure the store could go forward,” said Bradley. “We even had whole families of moms, dads and the kids in here with soap and rags, washing down the shelves so that we could put some merchandise out and do a little business.”
   A deeply Christian family, the Bradleys have always been interested in good nutrition, but that interest intensified as Victoria was preparing to have their third child.
   “We started reading about why certain cultures throughout history had chosen and prepared their foods the way they did and what the benefits were,” said Bradley. “As we learned more, we changed our eating habits and turned to more quality and nutrient-dense foods. We talked to our friends, and Victoria started giving cooking classes at home. We quickly discovered that there was a much wider interest in healthy cooking and eating than we had realized.”
   They started an Internet business in nutritionals but quickly found that their customers wanted a bricks-and-mortar store where “they could grab a head of organic lettuce or some tomatoes,” and discuss nutritionals in a knowledgeable environment.
   “I did a lot of research and found that in any population area about 4 to 6 percent of the people eat only organic foods and will not buy anything that is not natural or organic,” said Bradley. “Within Ramona and the backcountry there are about 70,000 people, and if I take 5 percent of that it gives me a potential customer base of 3,500 shopping every week. Actually for places like Julian and Ramona, I think the percentages would be higher, but I am very happy with that.”
   And then, the permit parade started.
   “I’m not blaming the county authorities, because they are trying to protect the public in much the same way we are,” said Bradley. “But it can be very time-consuming and frustrating when you have the monthly rent to pay and nothing you can sell. “In desperation, I called the health authorities and asked what we could sell, and they said vitamins are not regulated so we could sell those. I said great and we opened as a store selling vitamins, dog food and ‘green’ cleaning supplies. We will always have those but my target is top quality organic food”—once the permits are completed.
   “As a Christian family we really felt a calling from God to provide this valid food alternative to the people of Ramona and environs,” said Bradley. “But at the end of November, when Victoria called and said we only had one week’s money left before having to close the doors, I really began to doubt. I questioned whether I had heard that message correctly. Maybe I was wrong. Doubt filled my mind.”
   Then remarkable things started to happen, said Bradley.
   “People came in to help on every front, not just family and friends but customers, strangers sent by customers, people who had no connection with Christian beliefs, all just came in and did what they could,” he said. “It was like God saying, ‘Oh ye of little faith, but don’t worry. We’ve got it covered.’”
   As a result, the Bradleys say they can now see their dream of building a family-operated, multi-generational, quality health food business.
   “We take none of the credit for any of this,” said  Victoria Bradley. “The glory goes to God, and the credit and thanks go to our friends.”
   “Truly,” she said, “it is a Christmas Miracle on Main Street.”