In the Castro area, expect to see unique things in this shop. I personally love this shop, it has some great ideas and just cool unique items. Some of the novelty items are hilariously charged. "I love my penis" hand sanitizer. LOL appropriate I guess. read more

Who could resist Cliff's after reading these reviews? I was in town and hey, I truly needed to pick up a Magic 8 Ball. So I headed to Cliff's and yep, there they were, right in the toy department. Yes, Cliff's has a little of everything (please be aware that there are two stores, next door to each other, with separate entrances - don't miss anything!). Service with a smile at both stores - and here are the highlights for me: Adorable selection of books for young children. Great gifts. The "Little Mister" and "Little Miss" books from -what? - 25 years ago or so? Flags of the world Dishtowels featuring all the states Yarn that was actually decent wool - not just the stuff you get at Michael's Moleskine journals Le Creuset bakeware Fishnets, tiaras, and boas - hey it's the Castro Pastel crayons and nice artist quality tablets Cool kitchen-y stuff - I loved the wooden salad bowls and may go back... Kiwi shoe polish in those little round cans They sharpen knives and make keys Knit finger puppets (I wish I'd bought a handful of these) Candles Glitter in the large size container (about the size of a jar of peanut butter) Wigs in all colors - you just never know when you'll need to go pink. Such fun! Worth a return trip. You can spend just a little, a lot, or nothing at all and have fun at Cliff's! read more

I've been here twice and the first time I had a great experience- staff were helpful, the product variety and quality seemed great, and it was fun to even browse. The second time, I went in to the store on the north side (whereas the first time I went in the entrance on the south). I was a little confused and thought perhaps the stores connect in the back area. I walked towards it and a staff member yelled at me to stop. Actually he didn't say stop, but just made a condescending "eh eh eh" sound. It was humiliating. He didn't ask what I was doing or why I might have been going towards the back but just rudely glared and shut the door to the back (which I guess was storage but again, he didn't say anything). Still confused and bewildered, I walked out of the store as all the other staff and guests stared at me. I want to go back and talk to this man - perhaps he was having a bad day, but honestly just don't want to go back any more. read more

Sincerely try to support this local business. However, every time I purchase something there it is a horrible experience. Needed some paint supplies and spent $62. Louis, the cashier was extremely impatient and rude. I waited in line for 20 minutes. When I got to him, he said, "next time you will loose your place in line if you do not wait for someone to call you to come up". No reciprocal hello, just this statement. He also rolled his eyes when I asked for a biscuit for my dog. Lastly, he did not say thank you. Far from a neighborhood welcoming mentality. Will never go back there again. read more

Where else can you buy a wig, a plunger, and a kitty placemat all in one place? A little expensive, but I suppose that goes with the neighborhood. read more

Hands down, the best store in San Francisco. You can buy anything here. From hardware to sewing needs to cookware to toys. They have everything. When I was at the Safeway on Market St., baffled that they didn't sell cookie cutters, I knew just the place that would. Not only did they have your standard round cookie cutters, but there was a bear cutter, Santa, angels and stars. Cliff's is the one stop shop of my dreams. Besides, where else can you buy a toy of a dude trying to hold his pee? Yeah, I thought so. read more

They have everything here and the service is excellent. I love how they'll take time to explain things and help you find exactly what you need. It's not overpriced, It may be a tiny bit more than Walgreens across the street, but you're supporting a local store with better service! There are 2 separate Cliff's - the bigger one with toys, housewares, garden supplies and flags. And the smaller more modern store with fabrics, Blue Q products and fun Japanese imports. No need for Home Depot when there's a Cliff's! read more

I'm a total fan of Cliff's. Cliff's has been at it current location (which was previously the original Castro Theater) since the 70's. Being a Castro resident, when I need to get something quick, they usually have it. It is pretty amazing. The walls are stocked high and tight, but the have a little bit of absolutely everything. From home improvement supplies to housewares, to toy and art supplies. A few years back, they opened a decor store right next door. It has some nice retro style decorator items. I've never had a problem returning anything (with a receipt), but never tried returning anything without a receipt. The employees are all very nice, helpful and all usually know the inventory. The only negative, is that it is kind of pricey. But if you're in a pinch and need something quick, it's definitely worth paying a bit more. read more

I only have one word for Cliff's: A W E S O M E !!!! Every single time I walk in there I am amazed that they sell literally EVERYTHING I need! And... then some! From very specific stuff, to totally random, gifts for young & old! They sell all the little and big things you need in your house! Just now I was looking for a very specific faucet mount adapter and a charcoal replacement filter for our coffee machine and sure enough... they had it! Not only do they carry a lot, they are also SUPER friendly! Honesty, every single person that has helped me so far at Cliff's was very knowledgeable and friendly! They walk you through the aisles, dig through boxes with you and don't give up until they were able to help you! 2 thumbs up!!!! Truly a pleasant experience to go shopping at Cliff's! read more

Alright, so the A+ reviews are all accurate: great, helpful staff, wide variety of things for the house and for your personal projects. However, the one bone I have to pick is with the quality of some of their items. I came here for a hand soap dispenser after *two* that I purchased at BB&B rusted- because they are cheap alloy crap from China. I had similar issues with the hand soap dispenser I got from here. The reason I want to go to places like this is for quality items that are going to last that I can get value out of, not the same cheap crap offered at big box stores. The 'InterDesign" brand is by and large completely crap, I would avoid it. Other than this one example I've been completely satisfied with the store. read more

There has not been one time I've not found what I've needed at Cliffs. Today, it was disposable aluminum pie pans, nine of them, for the numerous pies I plan to make, for the 4 Thanksgiving parties I am attending. With an extra pie for my husband. Last time, it was all the hardware to earthquake-proof our house. Remember those quakes a few weeks ago? The time before, aqua glass Victorian drawer pulls. Which I priced out everywhere. Guess where I found them cheapest? At Cliffs!! I have purchased a color wheel for a class I was teaching. A birthday gift for my 4 year old nephew. Both Christmas and Halloween supplies. Sewing notions. A garden Nome. A shower head. A Transgender Pride Flag. Those are just the things off the top of my head. This year, if you are getting an Xmas gift from me, it'll probably be from Cliffs. read more

My very first time in this store. I have been sheltering in place so much lately and I needed to be out to relax. I also needed some cheer due to having to drop my class and dealing with a long job hunt. I had walked to this store from the Safeway on Market Street so I did have a shopping bag with groceries. I was walking around looking at all the things they had because there was so much to see. I was excited for I had picked out one small item and was excitedly looking for other things. This worker asks me if I would like him to hold the two tiny items at the counter while I shopped and I thought nothing of it and said "sure." This is where the encounter went wrong leading to this review. I gave him those 2 items and was walking around slowly and thoughtfully browsing, just wanting to relax, be at peace, and enjoy being out in the world. Not even 2 minutes after the first encounter, he reapproaches suddenly insisting I leave my bag at the counter. That did not at all sit well with me at all because he was implying that I was going to steal. It completely ruined my visit and I felt as though I had been punched in the stomach. I immediately and very reluctantly ended my browsing, because my experience was ruin. I promptly paid, but as I walked away the bad feelings inside of me did not stop.I felt tears in my eyes and shaky. I felt so hurt, so insulted, so offended, so saddened and I could not shake it. I asked to speak to someone. I kind of felt that I was a bother though, because they apologized primarily for how I felt and not so much for how I was treated. Yes I get that there is Covid going on and stressing people out, but that was not an excuse for what had happened. The owner went on to tell me that I could have taken a shopping basket, but I told them I did not see any. They told me that many times customers shop and use their personal shopping bags to hold the merchandise until they go to the counter and pay. They informed me that shoplifting happens, etc. I get that because after all this is San Francisco. But I told the person I was speaking with that if there were said problems why don't have people leave their bags at the counter. I would not all have had a problem doing that. So maybe that is something that they should think about. Due to the treatment I received, I did not fully and completely look around the store and I was made to feel very uncomfortable and extremely unwelcomed. It breaks this heart to have to write a negative review such as this one. Customers are the lifeblood of any business and they lost a big sale from me because one person treated me like a thief. I want to come back and completely look around but am very hesitant to after what happened today. I have enough stress and heartache in my life and I did not need nor deserve this treatment read more

I love Cliffs. It's more than I thought any hardware store could ever be. Everyone here is super nice and friendly. It's kind of like visiting a favorite uncle. They'll patiently help me when I lose the fourth bolt I need to put my bed together and have no clue what size or type it is. And be interested in what kind of cookies I'm going to make with my new cookie pan. I always leave here feeling happy and good about life. How many hardware stores can say that? read more

4 stars for the high prices. I have found some of the same items elsewhere for an average of $1-2 dollars less; however, I love the convenience of the locations and the extensive variety that they carry. I have shopped in their fabric/home 1/2 and the hardware half. I love shopping for the raw hardware items for my art projects. I love shopping in their toy section. There are some cool individual toy bins that are fun to buy even if you are not a kid for a dollar or less. The people in the home/fabric section have always been really nice and helpful. One lady helped me find a glass cut glitter project that I had never heard of. If totally worked from the art project I was designing. read more

As its name implies, they carry a wide variety of handy and fun items. The greeter was friendly and was able to point me exactly to what I needed. Bright and clean store read more

Methinks this place is too full of itself with no reason that I can think of other than it's ooooooooooooold. But NOT in a good way. The workers have a worse vibe than someone working for Walmart but think they deserve to have an attitude. They forget they're just Castro;s local ACE HARDWARE - C'mon, people. Firstly, BEWARE: DON'T BUY ANY SEASONAL STUFF AS THEY'RE NOT RETURNABLE.: THAT MEANS HALLOWEEN, CHRISTMAS, NEW YEARS, ALL O' THEM HOLIDAYS!!!! Sure they have little bitty signs conveniently where they can point to them when you're actually there to return said seasonal stuff....thank you, Mr. I'm-A-Manager-bot. SECONDLY, OVERPRICED THIRDLY, UNDERWHELMING FOURTHLY, WHY ARE YOU STILL READING? GO! RUN! THE OPPOSITE WAY! read more

This place is awesome. They have a little bit of everything, enough to get you by if you don't want to order something special. They even have basic lumber and gardening on one side and craft and home supplies in the other. Prices might be slightly higher than some place like lowes, but they are convenient as hell. And they are dog friendly! read more

If you are on Castro Street - you MUST step into Cliff's Variety Store. It is simply amazing the way you will remember the little item - the misc. light bulb, the kitchen appliance, the nick-nack you've been meaning to track down after a little browsing; and lo and behold, they will have it! or better - they will have a whole tasteful selection of them. It's amazing how - given the amount of floor space they have - how precisely thorough they are at stocking just the right stuff -from electrical supplies to garlic crushers to slide whistles. read more

A boon for artists and do-it-yourselfers. The amazing thing about Cliff's is that it has a much better selection of basic hardware than Home Depot or Orchard Supply in a fraction of the floor space. The big stores have enormous quantities of a very limited selection, and most of it being of very poor quality. These are just "dumbed down" versions of a truly useful hardware store. Take something as basic as lamp hardware; nuts, threaded rods, end caps, sockets, etc. Home Depot has tons of lamps but very little to fix them with, just a few dusty displays with half the inventory missing. Cliffs uses just a little shelf space to feature a huge variety of difficult to find items. Better quality items and good prices. On the "I'll make my own" side, Orchard has a meager supply of brass threaded rod, usually most sizes missing or damaged. Cliffs has brass rod and sheets in a variety of shapes and sizes. If you're a maker or a fixer, Cliffs is the best I've found in the Bay Area. Worth a trip from my home in Santa Clara. read more

They have a good assortment of stuff and by stuff I mean a little bit of literally anything you could imagine. It's clean and stocked pretty well. The workers aren't the nicest but they are nice enough. My only complaint (other than parking in the neighborhood being difficult) is that the prices are way too high. We were there on a day when it suddenly started raining and we bought an umbrella that seemed to be the cheapest one there (a kiddy umbrella) and it was $25...it wasn't that much better than something at a dollar store to be honest...Everything was just marked up way too high. Also, we bought a few small gift items and were shocked to see that these 3 little tiny things were basically another $25... I could understand those kind of prices if this was a tourist gift shop like something you'd find at disneyland. read more

I have been going to Cliff's for over 20 years and, I swear, there is not ONE thing they don't have every time!! Tonight we needed a T-5 screwdriver and it was 8 minutes to closing....I called and asked if they had one and the clerk said "Yes, we DO"! Always cheerful and pleasant. Then he said "Girl, you best hurry...we close at 8"! I said I was running and got there 4 minutes of. Had I not called I would not have been let in as the store is always full of customers and they are pretty strict about not letting one in 5 minutes before (unless you call and talk to someone who vouches for you). I got my T-5 screwdriver promptly and they saved the day in the recording studio! Thank you Martha and exceptional staff at the best Hardware and Toy Store anywhere!!! read more

A Fab Place to find things for my home or office. Absolute service without Castro attitude. Thank you guys for being you!!! Your neighbour, Amron-Paul Y www.geckogecko.biz read more

Wild place - can buy tools, nails, garbage bags, the usual "hardware-store" supplies but also buy Moleskin notebooks, easter decorations, adorable teapots. It's worth a visit just to check out what is available. If you are on Castro and need a break from the people-watching, duck inside and enjoy. read more

Full of random objects I do not need. It's fun browsing in here. Prices are not too friendly. read more

I needed to replace the handle on a pot lid that was broken. I also needed some medium sized paint brushes for an art project. Where on earth could I go to get both of these? Why Cliff's, of course! I went there today and showed one of the gentlemen working there my lid and asked if they had any handles I could buy to replace the broken one. Not only did they have some, he took off my old handle and put on the new one for me! Awesome. This is the kind of customer service I know I will get here. I have been going to Cliff's for years to pick up random things I knew they would have. I don't know where these negative reviews are coming from. Some negative nellies (no pun intended) just want to hate on Cliff's, but my experience here has always been great. read more

Is this the greatest store in the world? What don't they have? Is the sales staff knowledgeable, patent, kind, and funny? The answers are 1) Yes 2) nothing 3) absolutely!! When in San Francisco visit the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, and Cliff's Variety. read more

Cliffs has never failed me. Every time I'm in a bind, whether it's a last minute costume piece or a 3 prong extension cord, cliffs always has what I need. The staff there is also exceptionally friendly and helpful. Shop Cliff's first! read more

Cliffs is great! You can find whatever you're looking for there, albeit a little over priced. But hey where else can you buy a Tiara and a flashlight! WARNING!!: If you like the furniture in the window be prepared to WAIT! They are not a furniture store but a Furniture mail order store! Therefore, if you fall in love with that too cool for school bookcase it'll be three weeks... if it's not on backorder! read more

This place is aMAzing. Been by it a thousand times but never inside. Probably good because I'd surely be broke by now. However, brokeness will ensue because I can't wait to get back. I needed two things - fabric and very small nails. Not things you are likely to find in the same place but this is not the case at Cliff's. I was looking for two different fabrics and found one. They have a pretty small fabric selection but it is clearly hand-picked by someone with mad style. So much awesome fabric. It's the stuff you spend an hour searching for in a regular fabric store but it's just all right out there for ya. stripes, flowers, gnomes and even some shimmer. will surely be back for more. also, the people that helped me find my fabric were super relaxed and very nice. but not too nice, just real. i like that. i found the nails no problem in the next door part of the store (my fabric was simply passed over while i ventured over to the other side of the wall...) i also discovered that this store is about 20 times as large as it it looks and filled with treasures and everyday needs alike. good thing i was in a hurry or i would have closed the place. It's awesome. One-stop shopping. But with, once again, mad style. Big ups to Cliff. Thanks for the variety. read more

This is a place to never forget in your list. My favorite hardware store and they have a fabric and Yarn section on their side store. Customes, furniture, and Yarn, not a lot of yarn selection there, but enough of a variety for a quick gift making knit or crochet project, they also have Dyes. Not very pricey, but not low end! There is almost everything under the Sun in this store, go and check it out, and the staff is Extremely Helpful and go out of their way to help you with your projects and stuff. I have been visiting Cliff's for over 20 years. read more

If you need something, they probably have it and can get you to it quickly! An amazing variety of things -- everything you'd expect from a "hardware" store, but that is just the beginning. They are not the cheapest place in town, but I appreciate that I can go in looking for something odd and be back out WITH IT typically in just minutes. The staff is very helpful. If the first person you ask can't help, they seem to know who to go to next. A great place to broswe for unusual gifts, too! read more

What I got here- Bathroom towel bars, bathroom mats, stretchy fabric ribbon to make a wrist holder for our stroller, and some fridge magnets. The people who work there are very friendly, the store is super clean and I wanted more than I needed. Really liked this place and will go back. read more

Cliff's ROCKS! I have never been disappointed with this place. Great staff, lots a fun, stuff you didn't even know you wanted and excellent customer service. You just cannot go wrong with Cliff's. It is difficult to NOT FIND what it is you are looking for. Another reliable piece of SF history AND well worth a visit. Thank you Cliff's Variety for all you do and have done! There is NO need to go anywhere else. Period. read more

Happy New Year! I have lived in the Castro and shopped at Cliff's loyally since 2010. I appreciate the convenience, and variety. I do not, however agree with the manner in which the staff handles returns, particularly the older female working the return register on 1/13/2016 @ 1:00 pm. I will not get into a debate, while in line, over a 5 dollar return, because the package is broken. I had to tear the very small package to get to the item in order to see if works correctly. Her tone, and aggressive energy could really use some attention by the manager. I certainly will not let this one incident detour me from continuing to be loyal to Cliff's, but I will certainly continue to express my dislike for disgruntled employees. #beproudofyourjob read more

They have everything! And if they really don't have it, they will tell you where to go. You can bring your dog, which is so great. Overall, super friendly and knowledgeable staff. People seem so happy to work here! So thankful they are in the neighborhood. read more

A Castro institution. An actual working hardware store, a fabric and decor store, and the place to get crafty stuff for a costume party. Not that people ever place dress-up in that area, no, not at all. As the neighborhood as changed over the decades, Cliff's is pretty much the same place, unlike almost everything else on the block. It still serves the same purpose, and seems to be going strong and serving the neighborhood. read more

The staff is super helpful; honestly, they're the best. The selection is incredible with a wide variety in value so you can go both high end or budget if you need to. Prices were great and very affordable which is a true life-saver for people just moving to the area and need something quickly. We will definitely be going back for everything we need. read more

This place was really cool, I easily could've spent most of my money there. People there were super nice!

Your one stop shop. This store has nice crafts, gifts, and hardwares. I went in to replace my broken key and end up buying misc items for my room. Friendly staff. Prices are pretty reasonable. read more

I remember years ago (the 90's) going into Cliff's Hardware in the Castro and getting an attitude from the employee's. Getting help was like pulling teeth, and anyone I knew expressed that going in there felt like you were inconveniencing the store by existing. (An all too common SF business trait, unfortunately). But this millennium, it seems every time I go in, I get friendly faces, people whom want to help me, and I even get asked if I need any help when I've just been looking and helping myself! Cliff's today is splendid and I enjoy every visit. Even when they are crazy busy, they have a multitude of cashier's whom, as busy as they are, knock that line out as fast they can, and even smile and engage in friendly conversation while doing so! However, the older cat at the Variety space adjacent to the hardware store, where you can buy fabrics, might take a lesson or note or two on friendliness and helpfulness from his hardware dept. co-workers. He reminds me of that tired, old bitter ninety's scene! C'mon dude, lighten up, you ain't dead yet! You're only making yourself look bad! read more