Cliff's Variety Shops in San Francisco – GayOut Guide
Gay Shops

Cliff's Variety

Google (1217) 4.8
Tripadvisor (11) 4.3
91
/ 100
GayOut Score
G4.8 🦉4.3
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Address
479 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114
📞
Phone
+1 415-431-5365
🌐
Website
cliffsvariety.com
💰
Price Range
$

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About this place Cliff's Variety

Cliff's Variety is one of the Castro neighbourhood's most beloved institutions — a hardware and variety store that has been serving the neighbourhood since 1936 and has operated under LGBTQ+-owned management for decades. The store is not a gay bar or a nightclub, but its place in the community fabric is as important as any bar on the strip: Cliff's is where Castro residents buy their light bulbs, their holiday decorations, their Halloween costumes, and the miscellaneous practical items that make a neighbourhood function. The annual Halloween window display is a Castro tradition that draws visitors from across the city. Cliff's Variety is community-embedded in the most practical sense: it stayed open through the AIDS crisis years when many Castro businesses closed, it has employed neighbourhood residents consistently, and it continues to operate as a family-owned business resisting the chain retail pressures that have transformed the commercial landscape of most American urban neighbourhoods. The store's longevity is a form of activism — its continued presence on Castro Street is the physical argument that the neighbourhood is a real community, not just a tourist destination or a nightlife district.

Opening Hours

Closed
Monday 09:30-20:00
Tuesday 09:30-20:00
Wednesday 09:30-20:00
Thursday 09:30-20:00
Friday 09:30-20:00
Saturday 09:30-20:00
Sunday 11:00-18:00

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Community Reviews

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Google Reviews

Verified by Google
4.8
1,217 reviews

Based on 1,217 Google reviews.

Sue Reed
Sue Reed Aug 2026

We visited this store last week and it had so many wonderful things. I got a cbd lotion that is heavenly! Kind and informative staff great customer service. Will visit again next time I’m in SF

Sylvia Lewis
Sylvia Lewis Aug 2026

Has a variety of goods and is needed in the neighborhood. But the service is mixed. Some employees are very friendly, but I've had really negative experiences when I go in with my children. Today, we parked my five year old son's scooter inside the store. We purchased some items and then went to leave, so he retrieved it and we left. We were a foot away from the threshold when he put one foot on the scooter (not exaggerating, a foot away). The outside door guard admonished us for "no scootering in the store". This isn't the first time I have had negative experiences with the kids. It's a shame I try to go visit and support local, but I'm very annoyed.

Sonny Toyoda
Sonny Toyoda Jul 2026

I was a bull in their china shop and they were very nice about it congrats on the 90 years, hope to come back one day and spend money here instead of costing them some

Lang Lee
Lang Lee Jul 2026

Great little place to shop and get what you need service has this eye rolling queen who he was rude and not helpful anyways was not nice at all aside Mr diva 🧑‍🎤 it’s a nice store :)

Rodrigo Greely
Rodrigo Greely Jul 2026

Adorable store filled with cards, posters, books, games, clothing, and great gift ideas. I found unique cards (birthday, engagement, thank you) and a cocktail book. The selection is well curated, and the quality is excellent!

Cheryl maloney
Cheryl maloney Jul 2026

This is the best Hardware Store in all of San Francisco maybe the Bay Area maybe the world!! They have so many different products from everything hardware to fantastic home decor they have more than enough help that is always there. All of the help is well-versed on all of their products. I can’t say enough about this store.

Jeffery Mah
Jeffery Mah Jul 2026

Great Castro hardware and variety store. Also has a gift shop next door.

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Last updated on 18 August 2026

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