Folsom Gulch

This South of Market survivor has always been my go to place for ‘personal needs’ fir going on 25 years now. Open late, with a large selection of videos, toys, clothing, herbals, and ‘electrical contact cleaners’, the prices are reasonable, and the staff, in particular Mica from a quick stop there this evening, are helpful, knowledgeable, and super friendly.
Now if they can just figure out parking!

[This is a fluctuating review, in that I’ll adjust it per visit.]
2015 October 28^th: ONE STAR *
My Blue Moon visit spoilt by a less-​than-​helpful clerk.
Hey, I get it: it’s just retail, it’s a jizz joint, all kinds walk in, and it’s still in a neighbourhood that side of sketchy. One doesn’t have to be particularly bright to work here, but just because someone does work here doesn’t mean they’re mentally deficient either.
So here’s the irritating problem I faced to-​day:
At 1.30 I visited, but the clerk kindly told me ‘The arcade’s closed. They’re not finished back there yet.’ I nodded and asked when it would re-​open. His response: ‘I don’t know. They haven’t told me. I’m sorry. They’ll just finish when they finish.‘
It all seemed genial enough, though a bit vague. Of course I made the mistake of assuming that we were both referring to the arcade being closed temporarily due to a mid-​day cleaning by janitorial staff. So when I returned 40 minutes later and the arcade was still off limits, I asked how long did it normally take for the janitors to clean it.
NOW — FINALLY — the clerk tells me that he never said they were cleaning. Rather, there are workmen doing some carpentry. They’d been working since early that morning.
I am flabbergasted. I ask him why he didn’t tell me in the first place. He rolls his eyes and smirks to another person in the store. I then spend a little time at the counter composing this review. He uses his eyes to call me a ‘dick’ and I do the same but with my lips, and leave.
One or two bad experiences here out of so very many orgasmic ones will hardly keep me away. And I suspect that within a week or two, I’ll get a chance to return — maybe even bump into Casey Williams again! — and the score will return to its normal FOUR STARS.
Until then, to-day’s visit has left me with a bad taste in my mouth, rather like an unwashed/​shitty arse or a cheesy foreskin.
2015 August 12^th: FOUR STARS * * * *
It is so much easier to find sex when one’s gay rather than straight, especially in this city (or so my straight friends tell me).
And I do so appreciate The Folsom Gulch.
Sure they have sex toys and some clothing to purchase, but it’s those blessed porn video booths in the back that draw me back every so often.
I find most afternoon visits rather sparse when it comes to the quality of partners. There also seems to be a limit on versatility in the clientèle. Evenings do fare better on both counts. Still, there are times when the reverse is true. So it’s hit or miss, I’m afraid.
The holes are an adequate size — in the partitions between booths — but larger ones would be fun, and allow for more rimming and dick+ball play. There is one over-​sized booth which is excellent for 3 – 5 people, or to ride a guy’s ass while he’s on all fours on the ground.
The video monitors a not too small. They do have an irritating habit of blacking-​out every minute or so, and then resuming your video about 10 seconds later. Don’t know what that’s about.
I find it a great place to arrange for a quickie with a Grindr or Craigslist hook-​up. The area is being built up, and it’s right next to a fire station, but it still feels a little dangerous to venture there without keeping an eye out for trouble.

Return to this place after being enticed by Unilocal offer but my reviews cannot be bought. When presented with the offer, he seemed bothered by it and I asked if it was good for all merchandise, he said it wasn’t good for arcade and good on all others so I bought an item yet tried to be helpful on redemption procedure but got a dirty look from him for being too aggressive. The backroom is a real dive as it was last time and attendance was light. The patrons were mostly aging locals and hard working blue collar workers who just got off work. If you are into sweaty and smelly men, this is the place

My first love.
Folsom G is awesome. While I am a clean person, I love the dark and dirty scene. I have had many fun and favorable times. All kinds of horny toads just trying to get off.
If you like this scene, you should also consider Mission Secrets in the Mission. Also a great spot.

What ever happened to class? It’s poking through the glory hole of your next door neighbors video booth. In this age of grndr hookups Folsom Gulch is a delightfully visceral experience. You know what you’re getting into or vice versa. The carousel of slamming doors and pitter patter of pacing addicts adds to the ambience of this last of its kind video arcades. 10 $ to come in and stay until you’ve gotten your money’s worth. Don’t bring the family to this one. It’s a solo experience.

Folsom Gulch is just OK. The depth and breadth of their sex toys is sub par in comparison to other porn stores that I’ve visited – and believe me when I say that I’ve been to A LOT of porn stores. Hey! Everyone needs a hobby! Don’t judge.
Back to the review–
The arcade area is fairly gross, but you can’t really expect much from this area. However, the main problem with the arcade is that every booth has at least 3 or 4 peepholes/​gloryholes whereby other passionate patrons of porn may watch you «handle your business.» I don’t begrudge anyone their voyeuristic pleasure, but sometimes you just don’t want to be watched. It;s extremely annoying. There needs to be 2 or 3 booths that are peep-​prohibited.

The store was good. However, the clerk was not. I paid 20 $ to Unilocal and bought $ 52 worth of merchandise. He charged me an an extra $ 32. When I questioned him on it. He said coupon was only for 10 $. I had to go to my bank account on line and show him it was 20. He then rang up a 22 $ duplicate bill. And said it would be fixed. Two days later the $ 32. Still remains. I am on vacation in SF. And now have to go back there and deal with them again. Not happy here!

So, I tried to buy a family pack, because my wife and kids were with me, but the guy said they don’t have any family rates (which totally sucks), but then my wife said it’s okay honey, the kids and I would rather stand out here and watch drug deals going down, you go on in and take your time (she’s a problem-​solver, my little lady!), so I went on in but couldn’t find the musicals so I got some erotic massage DVDs, and for later after the kids are put to bed, something special that I think she and my in-​laws will find very amusing, but then I remembered that my wife’s dad doesn’t like ethnic stuff, and the man behind the counter suggested a bootleg of Rush Limbaugh doing the nasty on a P-​town dance floor, but I can’t get excited by all that leather-​and-​boas business, so I left kind of dejected but a nice gentleman down the street was showing my teenagers how to load a pipe, so all-​in-​all, it was a good outing, we all learned something, and I’m giving Folsom Gulch four stars for unidentifiable aroma, flattering (nearly non-​existent) lighting, wholesome atmosphere, and rockin’ soundtrack.

Their prices keep going up while the service and clientele deteriorate. Staff now closes the back at 6pm to kick out anyone who hasn’t paid for an extended entry, rude and a mood killer.

Here’s the thing about adult businesses that some people don’t understand. The areas that they are in AREN’T seedy because those businesses are there, those businesses are there because the area is seedy. Prejudice against adult businesses make it hard to get permits in other areas of any city.
Fact of the matter is, most of the time, adult businesses make the blocks they are on SAFER. Because they are usually 24 hour businesses and there is someone around with the lights on. Criminals hate lights. Sometimes they have security guards that help with this.
Folsom Gulch has been there for decades and is a good neighbor. They keep their sidewalks clean. The are quiet. And safe.
The staff are usually friendly and helpful. The adult products sold there are of good quality and the staff is prepared to answer questions when looking for something specific.
If I’m looking for adult entertainment in SOMA, Folsom Gulch is the first place I’d think to go and find it. Gay or straight, they have something for everyone.

Many fun sex spots are in seedy areas. Thats a truism. Unless youre wearing a gold watch and expensive clothes, look like Gomer Pyle fresh from the boonies, or look like a lost little puppy, probably no one will give you any trouble. This is not just a San Francisco thing– anywhere in the US of A you can expect the same at an adult bookstore/​sex parlor. I had some very hot nasty sex with two or three masculine men. And I agree, why are prudish folks and uptight women visiting the Gulch anyway? It is obviously a gay hook-​up joint. Are people today really that naïve and uninformed that they cant recognize a gay adult bookstore compared to a ‘married couples’ lingerie shop?

great place! day or night. nice asian guy.
$ 10 for all day, nice.

I went in here one day after work. The guys looked at me strange. SF is a city of gender variants, drag queens, etc. They then said, «We don’t have a lot of women come around here». Then I said in my best gay voice, «Oh hun, I am not a woman». But they were older and I am really really petite. But come on… JAWLINE!
I bought a dildo here and plan to come back to get some more sex toys. They also have a good selection of CURRENT gay porn.
It’s cool that apparently they have a gay sex arcade. It’s like to try it (if I was single)…after all, that tankie and short shorts aren’t in my closet because I layer them over leggings. ;)

much better than polk gulch for sure
why are women reviewing this place? its a GAY hook up palace lol

Wow Amanda H. I dont know why such the hatred for The Gulch and that corner? sorry your friend lives a few blocks away but you know what… DONT WALK BY THE GULCH THEN! Simple eh? And yeah I would appreciate not shutting down Famouth because I kinda sorta totally live there and you know what… I love it! Sure there is the occasional crack head on the corner (lol what corner in SF doesnt?!), but they dont stay long and Ive never been harassed by them. The do their deal and walk on so who gives a damn? Bonus is that the bums that hang out on 5^th and Folsom always sing RnB songs and call me «doll» and «lady».” Anywho, I love Falmouth St and the Gulch are great neighbors!
As far as The Gulch goes, I dont go in there really (because Im a classy lady) but they seem nice and they have my favorite porn poster in all of SF inside. The one of the guy with white pants on grabbing his crotch staring seductively (and slightly retardedly) from beneath his unibrow. I love it… Ive named him Unibulge!

This place is magic, and it’s open all the time. I even applied for a job here, but they didn’t hire me :(
Be careful if you’re here alone at night, because there are HELLA drug deals that go down outside the entrance.
Why are women reviewing Folsom Gulch?

Billed as «The Best Place to Cruise in SF», this derelict, ass out, felonious, gag inducing, gay jizo’rama ALSO did NOT have the straight sex fantasy porn, «Kill Girl Kill 2».
One extra star for all of the colorful rainbow flags that really brighten up the place!
For background please see MsBeesknees’ review of Secrets:

apparently THE place to find rare and obscure gay porn in the bay area. i mean, other than the internet which is where any self respecting person buys porn but sometimes you’re on a time crunch to get off, okay?
the dude who works here is best described as a garump. that is a gay grump who also happens to be very fat because that’s the sound i hear in my head when a really fat, grumpy person walks by. garump, garump, garump! I’m off track here. now, i’m all about being fat and not jolly, i feel the jolliness stereotype has too long been forced upon my people. you can be fat and a big fucking grump, it’s true! look at me! however, what i do care about is that if you work in a place of bidness, you must at least be fake tolerable to your customers. I don’t even need friendly but acting like I exist would be cool. And good for sales. This man couldn’t have been less interested in us and when he realized we were actually going to buy something, he treated us as really annoying gnats that were buzzing around his (fat, bald) head. He pointed me and my shopping companions (both very attractive. this is key. actually it’s not, i just thought you should know they are both VERY good looking.) to the section where we might find something delightful. when we didn’t find what we were looking for i asked him about the videos behind us and he basically told me that stuff was too racy for us. i was like, «sir, we are racy girls!» and he rolled his eyes (ROLLED HIS EYES!) and was like, «uh huh.» ANYWAY, lo and behold, the videos that did interest us were behind us. Hmph. I like guys jacking off into the mold of a gigantic penis and then freezing that mold and using it to anally rape another man. I am a woman of TODAY!
Anyway, a throughly confusing experience was finally put to an end when he miraculously found the video that he said did not exist and we were able to purchase it and be on our gay way. On the way out, I noticed the man’s name tag read, «Dick» (how fully appropriate!) so I made an extra point of saying, «Thanks so much, DICK!» with a special enthusiasm reserved strictly for real fucking assholes. i felt as though it was me who had the last laugh. Although, really it was him because he got my money for some really fucked up amateur gay porn. Although, really it was me because I don’t work at Folsom Gulch. HA!
i bet you’re REALLY confused about my sexuality right about now.

The guys that work here are all such a**holes, it’s hard to believe I don’t want to support an establishment that boast as much good and hard to find amateur porn as they do. If it weren’t for supporting my local directors, I would never think to go back. (PS, also carries toys, novelties, and toiletries)
Don’t EVEN ask me about that back room. Ill-​gotten booty ain’t my style.

One-​stop shopping for porn videos, latex toys, and STDs.