Welcome Castro by San Francisco Mercantile — Local services in San Francisco

Wow! A sophisticated, well-curated gift shop again in the Castro! Not to be a prude, and I realize the need for the kitschy shops with adult toys and such, but Welcome Castro is an awesome alternative those stores. At WC, you can find reasonably-priced, quality, and sometimes edgy merchandise, literature, and artwork that commemorates the neighborhood and its residents. I lived in the Castro for 25+ years and watched similar shops come and go, and keep going, until none remained. The store is a nice complement to the longtime neighborhood institution down the street where you can buy washers for a garden hose and a set of interesting coasters at the store annex. It's not cheap to keep these places open - I encourage everyone to stop by and take a look. I'll bet you'll find the perfect gift for someone (or even for yourself). Welcome Castro has a distinct feel, friendly staff, and a very welcoming atmosphere. I'd wager you won't leave...

This store is AMAZING! They have a great mix of gifts, clothing, and other retail that is both LGBTQ as well as California/San Francisco themed. I recently was there and it was a one stop shop to get a bunch of fun gifts for my friend's upcoming birthday, as well as a cute card, and some fun stuff for me as well! The staff is super friendly and the...

Just as fun as the Haight Street location, which skews hippy, but this store screams gay. This is the Castro after all. Rainbow flags! Mustache Ride machine on the sidewalk in front. That photo-op will definitely lure you in. Clever needlepoint pillows, fun cards, baseball hats & Ts. This is your go-to for...