Cliff's Variety

I love Cliff's. It's such a fun store. I go here for almost all of my hardware needs. And sometimes just to browse (Warning: You'll be hard pressed not to purchase anything if you're just browsing. So much cool stuff here.)

The very best thing about Cliff's, though, hands down are its knowledgeable and friendly staff.

Case in point: Last year, while cleaning our bathroom, I accidentally broke our porcelain toilet bowl (yikes!). I'm not handy and Googled info on how to fix it. I then went to Cliff's to purchase what I needed to patch it up until the toilet bowl could be replaced. When I got to Cliff's, there were a lot of different glue and tape options available and I wasn't quite sure what to buy. Should be simple, right? But would they all work on porcelain? Did I need something waterproof? Of all these options, what was best for my situation? One of the staff and he was happy to give me some guidance. He helped me choose the right products and then gave me advice on how to use them. His advice was spot on.

While you may save a couple of bucks by ordering stuff online, the invaluable advice that you get from places like Cliff's isn't something you're going to get from Amazon.

Grateful that gems like these still exist.

I loved Cliff's Variety! Walking in, I was on one side, where there were super cute wigs and jewelry for the DIVA in you, wonderful little things for the house, you name it.

I bought a dry brush for my face, a lip balm and a couple of little gifts (cat themed) for my pet sitter. When I went to check out, I found a couple cute Trans rights stickers for my baby.

Then we went next door (I didn't realize it was the same shop) and got a cute little toy block set for my grandson.

They have everything you need, like... seriously. Chill atmosphere and all kinds of goods.

Can't go wrong.

SO MUCH FUN! There are two stores side by side, the main Cliff's Variety Store and the Annex. Both are so fun to walk around in. The main store has everything, games, toys, houseware, tools, gardening supplies and seeds, nuts and bolts- really anything you could think of. The Annex was a little more fun and quirky with a lot of rainbow and LBGTQIA+ items, fabric, art, art supplies and a lot of fun gift items.

Between the two stores you'll definitely end up picking up something. We ended up with a print from a local artist and a Drag Queen card game.

The staff were really friendly as well and are happy to help you if you need anything or are having trouble finding a certain section.

If all hardware stores were like this one, I'd go a lot more often!

Cliffs is a wonderful and important store in the Castro neighborhood. The store is a cornucopia of gadgets, trinkets and toys. A valuable neighborhood business for those unexpected home needs. Note...most all the employees act as those they are unhappy or there to enforce some "rule". Strange.

Just a fun useful well stocked helpful place to shop for what you need, want or just must have!
From gaskets to lashes to fun socks and the nastiest greeting cards this place will make you, your home, and your giftees smile.
You can get things for design, entertainment, making, fixing, creating, growing, nourishing, repairing and doing.
Check out both stores - they're side by side so just do it.

I have been a Cliff's customer for more than 23 years, getting all my hardware and houseware needs fulfilled there, except once they didn't carry some plumbing oddment I was looking for. It turned out none of the plumbing supply places in San Francisco had it either. The staff are professional and exceptional. There's a reason they have flourished for more than 80 years

Nearly anything you need, you can find here. Super friendly staff. Things I've picked up here over the years include dog toys, party banners, tea towels, tub stopper, le creuset Dutch oven, tools, fabric cut by the yard, gas for my camp stove, earrings, all kinds of well received gifts, etc.

I went in to buy some holiday stuff, prepared to spend at least $100 as i really liked this store and wanted to support small businesses. I didnt see any shopping baskets at the front so when i started shopping i VERY OBVIOUSLY put stuffy in my reusable bag in front of store employees while asking them where things are so that they wouldnt worry about me trying to steal. I held the bag wide open the entire time and smiled at all the employees. Then an employee can put to me and said "uh, no, lets not do that before someone starts making assumptions about you." And then handed me a basket.
I completely understand that with all the stealing going on in the city, workers need to be on high alert, but that kind of tone is so unprofessional and honestly completely rasict. As a person of color, hearing that from another person of color was extremely distressing especially after getting stared down by all the white workers. With all the other comments about their outright racist behavior I bet they sent in the POC so that they couldnt be called out; however, the racial profiling could not be missed with the way he looked at me and talked to me. I meant that this man looked at me like he was disgusted with my presence.
Now if he had said something along the lines of "Hey would you mind using a basket instead of a bag, we have a policy about this due to theft issues" I would have gladly taken the basket and apologized for my mistake. But i have NEVER been talked to so rudely in my life by an employee. Also as someone who works retail i wouldnt dare say that to a customer even if i suspected them of stealing.

Its really such a shame that they are okay with this behavior.

This store has the MOST AMAZING customer service. I was looking for furniture risers of a certain size and height which they didn't have. Instead, Tamdin offered to see what could be made with scraps of wood. He brought Richie over who made the exact size we needed--at very little cost! Every time I shop at this store, I leave with a smile. Five-plus stars!!!

This neighborhood gem has everything and their prices compare with Amazon's prices. It is better than Amazon because you get to see and touch the stuff that you are going to buy. The selection is probably not as good as Amazon 's, but you know what you're getting when you buy it at Cliff's. The service is usually good, given with a positive tone most of the time.