I know I've been promising a testimonial for a long time now. I just visited the website and saw that there was only one testimonial I could see. Seeing as there's no one quite like my wonderful and dearest friend John Hopkins and Oh Happy Days that's more deserving of praise and a glowing testimonial in the whole wide world, here it is:
For over a quarter century now, I have been a faithful friend and customer of John Hopkins and Oh Happy Days. I can personally attest to the fact that there is nothing - absolutely nothing - in this whole wide world quite like Oh Happy Days. It's more than a store, more than a cafe or natural foods restaurant - its a community, its like my second (or maybe first) family. Nowhere in the whole world will you find a collection of such colorful and notable characters - not just Corn Woman and Zen, but others, like bookman Phil, wrestlin' Glenn Arbuthnot, the turbaned wonder; Walter, John's old college professor; cactus eatin' and cactus punchin' Tim; and many others. I keep telling John that he should write episodes for a sitcom based on actual goings-on in his store; it would blow Cheers out of the water!
John Hopkins, OHD's founder and proprietor, is the pillar of the local Bohemian community. I admire him and have been his faithful friend all these years for all his stellar virtues - his honesty, generosity, hard work, self sacrifice, courage, forthrightness, and willingness to help all who come to him. He just might be the last boy scout! Maybe that's why I've hung around him all these years - hoping that his virtues would rub off on me!
So, no matter how far and wide in this world I roam, I always come back home to Oh Happy Days from time to time to reconnect with my spiritual home and family. John, you may be interested to know that, when I was at an internet cafe in Bucharest, Romania, I met a young lady who was preparing to take and pass the entrance exam to Caltech with high hopes of succeeding. And where did you think I recommended that she go to enjoy some wonderful food and incomparable company? Where else but the one - the only - Oh Happy Days!
Love and Light,
David Osborn
Community Activity at "Oh Happy Days"
By Harold
I stopped by at closing time, 6:30, on Saturday evening. It's the last day of the business week for OHD; they are closed on Sunday. The last few customers departed.
Some of John's, the proprietor of OHD, friends are hanging around. They had planned to go the tunnel party in Azusa canyon. Corn Woman had been on the phone and found out that it was raining in the canyon. The tunnel would be dank and musty. Enthusiasm for the event was waning. Zen had brought at set of drums for the event in the canyon. She decided to bring them into the store. They were a set of six stacking rings, each one nested into the next larger one. They were fitted with tightly drawn drum skins. She also had a set of thick short red rubber tipped drumsticks. Zen, Corn Woman, and I began to play. It was a new experience for me, and fun.
Zen pulled out a digital camera that she had borrowed for the evening. She wanted pictures of us playing the drums and some close-ups of individuals and of various combinations of us paired up. Then I took pictures of her with John and her with Jonathan (John's assistant). Then I got Jonathan to take a picture of me with Zen. We all got playful and silly during the picture taking time.
This turned into a special evening. I have known John since 1977, but I had only been hanging out at OHD since last September. I had previously seen or talked to everyone that was there tonight. I had already noticed this was a special place, not like any other store. It is really more of a community. I am sure that this is a natural outcome, intended or not, of John's personality and beliefs. John is low-key, into supporting good health, and serving the community. He founded Oh Happy Days' Natural Food Store and Vegan Restaurant in 1977.
So, Oh Happy Days is two places. For some it is a place to pick up herbs, supplements, organic produce, and packaged goods. For the rest of us, it is a community. It is a friendly, safe place where we are welcome to drop in any time. We greet each other, read the newspaper, listen to the radio, and chat with other regulars.
I invite you to join our community, if you have the inclination and time. If not, stop by for a Vegan meal and shop from a wide selection of natural food, supplements, and herbs. John is always available with information and recommendations to help you make your selection.
tell John you visited his web site.