Cliff's Variety

This is an historic and important community institution, but also a basic hardware store that sells all sorts of things. Neighborhood residents love the place and are dependent on it for important goods. Tourists love the browse and absorb the ambience.

Just packed with everything you could need for an apartment, car, or accessories in SF. I recently was looking for a specific wheelchair part. Although they did not have the exact part I needed, the clerk shared lots of alternatives (a couple I would never have thought of). I got what I needed at a fair price and a quick check out process. Every time I have been to Cliffs, I got amazing service finding exactly the thing I needed, substitutes, recommendations, etc. What a friendly group of locals - always a please shopping at Cliff's!

"Unsatisfactory customer service, terrible communication, inflated prices, and inadequate communication." not at all as it used to be, all employees with bad attitude

This place has some of everything. I have never seen a larger collection of odds and ends. We went in to browse and end red ip buying a lot of stuff. Lots of fun browsing.

Although it is right in the center of the gay district in SF (the Castro) it has something for everyone. I once told my straight brother who lives in southern CA if Cliff's doesn't have it I probably don't need it. I once saw a little boy on a tricycle circling around the store & laughing with his father smiling about the great experience he was having so there are even things for kids of all ages. Things you thought that they just don't make anywhere anymore you can often find @ Cliff's & their staff could not be more helpful with household items & repairs, & they even make keys. They also have a great clothing annex right next door to the main store.

Is this a tourist attraction? Probably not, but it is probably the best hardware store in San Francisco and maybe one of the most unique stores in the US. Explore and maybe buy something. Great at Halloween.

Well it started as a neighborhood hardware store, but it has evolved to so much more than that and folks from the area now buy all sorts of stuff here. I buy all of my tiaras here. But in the end it's just a store.

I saw something saying that they have everything. I went in thinking that they couldn’t possibly. :) I went in as a tourist, and they had lots of clever gifts (as expected). However, they had all sorts of necessities. If I lived in the neighborhood, they’d probably be my one stop shop for anything and everything, necessities, last minute gifts, both cheapie items and quality items. But even hardware and other stuff you might need if you lived down the street and didn’t have time me to go to a more distant specialty store.

This store is so much fun. There are so many different items here- from practical things such as shower curtains and bathroom hardware to costumes and stuff that is just plain quirky and fun. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable.

So how come Trip Advisor has been ignoring this absolute gem? Our daughter in law lives a couple of blocks away, so naturally we had to see for ourselves. Totally jammed on Christmas Eve with a checkout line a mile long, but the jolly kilt-wearing greeters assured us the line moves fast. A crazy mix of stuff you didn't imagine you needed or wanted until you saw it, all the way from three dollar champagne flutes to snowman USB computer hubs, to tons of stuff you can't live without (and that's just in the main store without venturing next door into the costume shop that could outfit an entire New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe.) Just down the street from the Castro Theater and a hip urban version of the wonders of the Vermont Country Store. Too much fun. If I lived in SF this would be where i'd hang out.