Health a labor of love for Winsted couple

WINSTED — For Bob and Sue Bailey, the importance of health and wellness is not just something they seek for their own family, but a passion and knowledge that they strive to share with others. The couple’s store, Health Food Corner on Main Street, celebrates its third anniversary July 21.

The store — which features more than 4,000 individual items for sale within some 2,300 square feet of space —  has a friendly, neighborhood feel, with Sue and Bob on a first-name basis with many of their customers.

“People like a face,†Sue said of the personal attention the longtime Winsted residents give to anyone who walks through their doors. “It doesn’t feel like a job, because it is so social.â€

Sue said it has been a positive experience since the first day the store’s doors opened, not just because the business continues to grow and thrive, but also because each day presents opportunities to help a neighbor.

“People have been very welcoming to us,†the former dental hygienist said. “We continually get thanked for being here, and that is very encouraging.â€

The two are steeped in health and wellness knowledge, much of which they gathered first-hand after Bob was diagnosed with cancer in 2002.

Looking to take a holistic approach to battle the disease, Bob began to take a look at his overall lifestyle in hopes of finding what may have triggered his illness, as well as ways to quicken his path to recovery.

“I didn’t drink and I didn’t smoke — I was an athlete,†Bob said, adding that he had been an active sports participant for most of his life. “Eventually, I concluded that it was in all the garbage that I ate.â€

One of the catalysts for taking this holistic approach was Sue’s father, who always had an interest in alternative medicine and frequently shared that with the couple.

“He’s 74 years old and he still walks every day,†Sue said with a smile.

Eventually, Bob, who has a background in legal work, said the two began to educate themselves in the area of health and wellness. Over time, Bob recovered from his illness, but the positive lifestyle changes the entire family made over that time period remained.

“There is a point where we just became aware that organic is important,†he said.

Sue said Bob would frequently have to special order health and wellness related items for himself and the family because he could not find the products in local stores.

And so, the seeds of the idea to open a health food store in Winsted began to germinate.

“A light bulb just went off,†he said.

Sue added that often when the two would mention their plan to open a health food store here, people would question their desired location.

“People said, ‘Why in Winsted?’†Sue said. “And we’d say, ‘Why not?’â€

The store, however, has experienced steady growth each year, and business remains strong despite the struggling economy.

“Business is great,†Bob said.

Sue attributes much of the store’s early and continued success to the importance of responding to the needs and wants of their customers.

“We have built this business by being listening ears,†she said.

The store has an extensive health and wellness reference library on hand, too.

“And we’ll sit down with people and show them their options.,†Bob said.

Although the store stocks numerous name brand vitamins, supplements, herbs and teas, Health Food Corner also has an extensive section of frozen foods and bulk items, as well an organic fresh food section.

Bob said starting next week, the store will begin to carry many more organic and fresh produce items that come directly from local farms.

“During the summer we have a farmers market,†he said.

In addition, the Baileys also stock several items that are produced in Connecticut, many of which are organic, including raw milk, eggs, honey, maple syrup, granola, cookies and homemade organic Belgian chocolates — “They are just delicious,†Bob said of the candies.

Also, the store has space on the first floor where they host Pilates and other exercise classes, as well as free health and wellness lectures.

“We recently had a nutritionist come in and give a lecture,†Bob said. “And he mentioned that he would be interested in doing a series of them in the future.â€

Currently, the couple are working on adding a small kitchen to the store, which would serve smoothies, juices and frozen yogurt. And eventually, they hope to add some prepared food items, too.

In the meantime, the two said they will continue to maintain their friendly and knowledgeable approach to the health food business on their own corner of Main Street.

“We’re filling a niche here,†Sue said. “And people in this area are still discovering us.â€

Health Food Corner is located at 390 Main St., Winsted. For more information, visit healthfoodcorner.net, or call 860-738-9222.