Cliff's Variety

Several months ago, my aunt and her family stopped by for dinner and she asked me if there was anywhere in the neighborhood where she could get a feathered boa. "Oh, sure," I said. "There's a hardware store just down the street." It didn't strike me until she started laughing how odd that was. But the truth is, Cliff's really does have a little bit of everything: hardware, lumber, paint, gardening supplies, kitchen supplies, toys, arts & crafts, drag accessories. The Castro is a pretty self-sufficient neighborhood, but mostly because Cliff's single-handedly rounds out most of the gaps.

My mom bought her angel-food cake pan here in the '50's. This store has the wildest assortment of fun & fabulous items-- as practical as gaskets, as glamorous as maribou. Toys, trinkets, wigs, dishes-- you name it. A quintessential stop on your Castro walking tour.