A steady flow of customers walked in and out of Screenz Digital Universe, 1730 Sherman Ave., Tuesday afternoon. They sat at computer stations typing on keyboards, checking e-mails and sipping cups of coffee.

The store looked like it does any other day, but yesterday was different. It was the store’s last day of business after almost seven years in Evanston.

The store closed because rent recently increased and sales leveled off, owners said.

“Unfortunately we have lost the lease on our Evanston store, and we were unable to find another location that would work for us,” according to a press release. “We will miss serving the computer and Internet needs of the Evanston community.”

Daniel Kite, the company’s founder, said a number of factors contributed to his store’s closing.

“I have always found Evanston a very difficult market to get in and out of if you live elsewhere,” he said. “Rents went up fairly substantially and there’s a lot of risk in there for me.”

Staying at the location would be dangerous, Kite said.

“The store does well,” he said. “It just doesn’t do well enough to cover the increased rent and increased risk that results from that.”

The store, a souped-up Internet cafe that caters mostly to professionals, is frequented largely by Evanston residents, owners said. Students are a smaller part of its clientele.

“Lots of people who work out of their homes have enjoyed coming there and spending entire days working there,” Kite said. “People have really made us their office, and they are quite sad that their great office thing is not going to be there for a period of time.”

Evanston resident James O’Shea, 32, was using a computer in Screenz Tuesday. O’Shea, who works in financial services, said he has been to the store several times within the past few weeks.

“It’s going to be a big loss for me,” he said. “I’m losing a place to do my job search.”

Kite said he unsuccessfully tried to buy the space. He said he understands why it’s necessary to increase rents.

“I don’t blame any of the landlords,” he said. “It’s just a matter of over time the rents go up in the area.”

Other stores in Evanston – such as Peacock, 706 Church St., which closed in January – cite rising rents as a factor for their shutting down.

As for Screenz, Kite said he is looking for a new space in Evanston to occupy.

“We’ll be out looking to try to find the right place,” he said. “Maybe we’ll be back.”

Reach Matt Presser at [email protected].