Cafe Floré at the corner of Market and Noe Valley Streets in San Francisco (in the very heart of Castro District) was a very popular café among local residents and it was half-way between his house at McAllister Street and San Francisco General Hospital.
To work day and night with dying AIDS patients took a (emotional) toll at Robert Gorter, and on his way home he would stop at Cafe Floré and have his decaffeinated (“decaf”) cappuccino with a biscotti. Usually, around 6.30 to 7.00 pm it was till sunny and for 30-45 minutes, Robert Gorter would wind down here before going home. At Café Fore, Robert Gorter was a very liked guest as they all knew what he did for AIDS patients and their beloved ones. One day, probably in 1986, Café Flore issued a limited number of Cafe Floré watches with its logo that were sold to support the AIDS Community work. Robert Gorter received a watch as a gift to express the gratitude of all staff at Cafe Floré. Robert Gorter still wears this watch nowadays (2014).
In the heart of the Castro District, the famous Castro Cinema in Castro Street is located. Here since the early 1980s during the week leading up to the CSD Parade, the annual Gay & Lesbian Film Festival takes place.
Click here to read more about the Cinema Castro in San Francisco
In the gallery below you can see more pictures of Cafe Floré at 2298 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114, USA (at the corner of Noe Valley Street). Cafe Floré has played an important role in the social activities around the early HIV/AIDS epidemic and was recognised as such in the mid 2000’s by receiving awards and grant money to maintain the cafe as it was.
