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Cliff’s Variety and Cliff’s Annex (471 and 479 Castro Street) – One of the oldest and most beloved stores in the neighborhood, Cliff’s Variety has built a devoted customer base by providing great service, stocking over 65,000 items, and giving back to the community. The DeBaca family, which still runs Cliff’s, opened their first small store on Castro in 1936, selling magazines, cigars, notions, and candy. During the next 35 years, they moved twice to bigger Castro St. stores as the business flourished and their stock of merchandise expanded to include hardware, home improvement materials, housewares, art and craft supplies, toys, Halloween costumes and more. The store’s annual Halloween costume contest and children’s parade, held from 1946 to 1979, is remembered warmly by older Castro residents. In 1971, the DeBaca’s moved to their current building, which was erected in 1910 as the Castro Theatre. As the 1970s gay transformation of the Castro occurred, they added products their new customers wanted, such as supplies for restoring Victorian houses and feathered boas and tiaras for drag costumes. The Cliff’s Annex, next to the main store, opened in the late -80’s, offering fabric, linens, bedding and bath accessories. Cliff’s has a long tradition of elaborate and eyecatching window displays, especially at Halloween and Christmas. For more information, see www.cliffsvariety.com.
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