In this guide · 4 sections
San Francisco's gay retail scene splits into two distinct zones: the Castro, with its neighborhood shops and gift stores, and SoMa's Folsom Street, home to leather and gear specialists. Both have a long history in the city, and some shops have been around for decades.
The Castro
Cliff's Variety on Castro Street is a Castro fixture — a proper hardware and general store, open since 1936. The gay community adopted it long ago, and it still feels like a neighborhood hub, mixing light bulbs, paint and tools with an odd, delightful selection of gifts and novelties. Go just to see it.
Nearby, Fabulosa Books is the Castro's independent bookstore, with a well-curated LGBTQ+ selection and a busy calendar of readings and community events — a worthy heir to the neighborhood's literary tradition. The Human Rights Campaign Action Center & Store on Castro Street doubles as an advocacy hub and a shop, selling equality-branded gear with proceeds supporting the cause.
A Different Light Bookstore, a Castro institution for 31 years, closed in 2011. It was one of the country's most important LGBTQ+ bookshops. Nothing has directly replaced it, though Fabulosa and other local shops now carry the torch.
SoMa leather and fetish
The Folsom Street area has served the leather and fetish community since the 1970s. Mr. S Leather on Eighth Street is one of the best-known leather and fetish gear shops in the world. They carry a serious range: leatherwork, harnesses, restraints, rubber, electro and everything else, with staff who genuinely know their products. If you are buying gear, not souvenirs, this is the spot.
The shops
- Cliff's Variety — A beloved Castro hardware-and-everything store since 1936, equal parts practical and delightfully odd.
- Mr. S Leather — World-renowned SoMa leather and fetish gear, from harnesses to rubber, with expert staff.
- Fabulosa Books — The Castro's independent bookstore, strong on LGBTQ+ titles and community events.
- Human Rights Campaign Action Center & Store — Equality-branded gear and advocacy on Castro Street, proceeds supporting the cause.
Practical notes
Castro shops generally open during the day, 10am to 7 or 8pm. SoMa leather and adult stores tend to stay open later. Check hours before you go, as some smaller gift and novelty shops in the Castro keep irregular hours.
For more on the city: Gay San Francisco Guide.
