Get to know the Castro Merchants
Castro Merchants is made up of merchants based in San Francisco's iconic Castro neighborhood, an international beacon of freedom, acceptance, creativity, and diversity.
Castro Merchants is proud to count among its founders Castro's own Harvey Milk, who understood that thriving Castro businesses would help create a strong and influential community. Our members include a variety of businesses, including food and beverage, nightlife/entertainment, retail, salons, spas, healers, professional services, and community organizations. All serve area residents as well as the many domestic & international visitors who make Castro a popular tourist destination.
Our Mission is to protect, promote, and advocate on behalf of all Castro businesses.
View our latest 990 filing here.
2023-24 Board of Directors
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Terry Asten Bennett | President
I was born and raised here in the Castro. I believe passionately in our community. Taking care of our community is what guides me in running my business and my everyday life. I am a mother to two amazing, strong-willed, civic-minded young women and grandmother to one energy-packed grandson. My hobbies include quilting, cooking, and volunteering with the AIDSLifecycle.
During the day, you can find me at my store, Cliff’s Variety.
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Jenn Meyer | Vice President
Since arriving in San Francisco 25 years ago, the Castro has always been a place of happiness and celebration for me. The Castro community is so amazingly supportive and inspiring, and I feel fortunate that I was able to open a store here so many years ago!
Come visit me at my funky gift shop, Local Take.
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Nate Bourg | Treasurer
I'm a Bay Area native and have lived in this beautiful city since 2009. The Castro is where I came out, and my life was forever changed for the better. I am passionate about giving back and helping create opportunities and a safe place for everyone in our queer community, especially those who have been historically marginalized.
Check out my social club, The Academy, which is open to all!
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Desmond Morgan | Secretary
As the Co-owner and Chief Operating Officer at Eureka Sky, I'm passionate about bringing cutting-edge solutions to the intersection of science and well-being in the Castro. With over 18 years in the pharmaceutical industry, my journey has taken me to the forefront of medical research and the heart of the Endocannabinoid system.
Curious to learn more? Visit us at Eureka Sky and embark on a voyage of discovery and wellness.
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Patrick Batt | Board Member
I have had a presence in the Castro since 1987 and opened AutoErotica in 1996 specializing in all aspects of our shared gay history including posters, artwork, buttons, books, magazines and other collectibles. The shop has become an internationally known destination. I have been involved with the merchant association for many years and served as its President for four terms at the turn of this century. Stop by the shop when you are looking for that hard to find piece of gay history!
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Max Khusid | Board Member
The Castro welcomed me, unlike any other place. I hope the Castro, as the soul of San Francisco, will become its best neighborhood, and we, as local merchants, will lead the way.
If you are interested in checking out some eclectic art, visit my gallery at Art House SF.
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Leon Shannon | Board Member
Having been born in the Midwest and raised in the Bay Area, Leon has enjoyed a sense of community. Over the last several years, he’s had the privilege of being included in the Castro community and looks forward to being a part of its future.
If you are looking for a skin care clinic, look no farther than Skin On Market.
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Dilber Fanourgiakis | Board Member
I am the owner of Aegean Delights, Greek and Turkish Imports. I came to San Francisco for higher education and I served with the U. S. Military and Department of Defense branches for many years as an academician and technology specialist. I've fought for equality, freedom, love, and justice all my life, and volunteered in nonprofits. Our world-famous Castro is the center of unification and love. Its vibrant history makes it a truly special place. I am committed to making our neighborhood glow like the gem it is
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Steve Martel | Board Member
My story as the owner of PO Plus began when I took the reins from Paul Moffett in 2016. I've been honored to carry the PO Plus torch, building on its legacy of excellence as Castro’s trusted one-stop center for shipping, mailing, and package receiving since 1982.
If you’d like to learn more about how we can meet your shipping, mailing, and business service needs, visit us at PO Plus.
Our History
In the Beginning
Originally known as Eureka Valley, the Castro was once part of a large rancho owned by Jose de Jesus Noe, a Mexican land baron. He began selling it off in 1852 after the American conquest of California.
In the 1880s, German, Irish, and Scandinavian immigrants began settling in Eureka Valley and building handsome Victorian row houses for their large families. The Market Street Cable Railway connected Eureka Valley with the rest of San Francisco in 1887, creating a housing boom and turning the village into a thriving working-class neighborhood.
The Castro in the 60’s & 70’s
Having transformed from a working-class neighborhood through the 1960s and 1970s, the Castro remains a symbol and source of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) activism and events.
The activism of the '60s and '70s forged a community with sizable political and economic power, and when the historic Twin Peaks bar at Market and Castro streets removed the blackout paint from its floor-to-ceiling windows, most took it as a sign that Castro residents were secure in their gay identity.
The current F-line Streetcars commenced operation in 1995 and serve as a daily transportation line between Fisherman’s Wharf and The Castro.
There were, however, tense and sometimes violent clashes with the police, and the assassination in 1978 of openly gay San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk was a turning point in the community's history.
Milk's assassination and the impact of AIDS brought the community together and made activists of almost everyone; the Castro became not just open but celebratory about its thriving gay and lesbian population.
Today in the Castro
The story of the Castro, its Pride, and its Merchants Association is one of resilience, community, and celebration. It's a story that reminds us of the power of unity, the importance of advocacy, and the enduring spirit of Pride. The Association is committed to maintaining the vibrancy and economic health of the Castro and ensuring that the neighborhood remains a beacon of LGBTQ activism and pride.
