Bookman's Alley to Close in March

Beloved Evanston bookstore announced recently that it will soon close after about 30 years of operation.

Earlier reports said the store will close after the holidays, but owner Roger Carlson told Evanston Patch that the store will remain open through March. After that point, it will only remain open if Carlson finds a new owner.

Carlson told Patch that recent health problems were part of the reason he finally decided to close up shop.  “It was after my car accident,” he said, trailing off to help customers taking advantage of a 30 percent off sale that will last until the store is closed.

 “I’m not even dying. But circumstances dictate I say goodbye to the bookshop,” Carlson told the Chicago Sun-Times about the decision.

The bookstore was a local attraction for residents and Northwestern students, filled with a variety of books, hidden nooks, and cozy seating areas. Local author Audrey Niffenegger wrote about the store lovingly in her book “The Time Traveler’s Wife.”

“The news that this shop is shuttering its windows breaks my heart,” wrote Katharine S. on Yelp, a popular business review website.

While fans of the store have until March to visit and say a final goodbye, some are still holding out hope that a new buyer will come along to take over the space.