Initially, Batt said he didn't want to do it because "it's like begging." However, he was convinced by Roberge to give it a shot.Īuto Erotica set a modest fundraising goal of $16,275 to help cover costs like rent, a pre-pandemic advertising bill from a local LGBTQ newspaper, and other various fees. "It's important that stuff goes to collectors and people who want it."Īs Hoodline previously reported, in order to help support the store he started a GoFundMe earlier this year with the help of Bradley Roberge. "As long as people walk in the door with boxes of things," said Batt. The past 20 months of the pandemic have been a struggle for Batt, but at no point did he ever consider closing the store. "They want to see it, they want to touch it," said Batt. While people can shop online for adult toys and lube just about anywhere, Batt said customers like to see the magazines in person. Books, DVDs, magazines, posters, artwork, buttons/pins, and other ephemera are just some of the items available to collectors and shoppers. Now, Auto Erotica may be one of the last places of its kind in the Bay Area selling vintage and collectible gay porn and erotica - often obtained from personal collections. "Ultimately I morphed into replacing all the sex toys, lubes, condoms, and leather goods with stuff that is historically important," Batt says, adding, "that decision ironically changed everything."
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"All of a sudden there were five and I had to figure out how to survive because you can only buy so many dildos."īatt said he decided to sell a bunch of magazine back issues and art on the walls, which attracted a lot of attention. "When I first opened the store there weren't five adult toy stores in the neighborhood," said Batt. When Auto Erotica first opened in 1996, it was your typical adult store selling items like condoms, lube, and adult toys. Prior to opening Auto Erotica, Batt says tells Hoodline he was the first manager of SoMA bar The Eagle Tavern (now SF Eagle) when it opened in April 1981, and he also worked for Mercury Mail Order across the street behind what is now Up Hair (4084 18th St). "I take comfort in the fact that I chanced on this whole little niche market that needs to be kept alive."Ī sign in front of Auto Erotica reads "we buy gay stuff." | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline "I like the gay history aspect of it," said Batt. Owner Patrick Batt has been buying and selling gay-themed memorabilia at this location since November 16, 1996. "We buy gay stuff," reads a sign at the base of the stairs leading up to Auto Erotica (4077A 18th St.) - which celebrated 25 years in the Castro this month.