We're sad to report that
The Bead Store, one of the anchors of the Castro's unique, small town flavored businesses, has closed up and relocated to the Lower Haight due to escalating store rents and the continued encroachment of corporate gentrification in the neighborhood.
Opening in 1964 The Bead Store's owners and staff have witnessed the evolution of The Castro from sleepy village of working class San Franciscans of Irish, Swedish and German immigrant stock into the epicenter of the LGBT world over the last 49 years of helping it's clients one bead at a time. It's served the needs of everyone from the beginner jewelers just discovering a new hobby, given classes on jewelry creating, watched the Love Children come and go and entertained many a drag personality to help procure the perfect necklace to go with that all important gown.
We're happy that this isn't the end for The Bead Store just the next chapter of it's own ever expanding story. Visit them at their new location at 320 Fillmore between Haight and Page and follow them on
Facebook. Buy and support local business and you support your own local tax base, neighbors, and friends PLUS it helps keep San Francisco and it's many varied neighborhoods like The Castro unique and not carbon copies of the suburbs so many moved here to escape.
