Vital Planet’s founder pens an eccentric novel

Frank Touby—

Vital Planet, the health shop that Hamilton lawyer Michael Granat started years ago at St. Lawrence North Market, went on the block last year. He wanted to sell it. And that desire led to his first (semi-biographical) novel, The Selling Party.

Granat, known for his eccentric humour and cheery demeanour, had moved his store from the North Market to a large retail space at 77 Lower Jarvis: he viewed it as an island of nutrition and healthiness amidst his retail neighbours selling mainly junkfood.

But he had decided to become an author and write the tongue-in-cheek story of his The-Selling-Party-bookvellife, which he has sort of done, disguised as an effort to sell a mythical health-food store using a “selling party” to merchandise it.

Whether it worked, you’ll have to read his book to find out. You can buy it at Vital Planet on Jarvis where Michael’s older brother Abe runs the operation. Abe has a long history of retail management and is making what some see as long-overdue changes and improvements at Vital Planet.

Affable Michael became a knowledgeable expert in his chosen health-food field. He made many friends in St. Lawrence Neighbourhood and beyond during his years operating the store and he does make cameo appearances behind the counter to this day. If not, trusty Abe is there with marketing ideas and an expertise in health-food store offerings the equal of Michael’s.