Bookman’s Alley from The Daily Northwestern 2 on Vimeo.

Video by Brian Rosenthal

Roger Carlson doesn’t know how many books he has in his bookstore.

The 80-year-old soft-spoken owner of Bookman’s Alley has collected between 50,000 and 70,000 books in his 30 years in charge of the store, he speculated, sitting in the front of the store in a snow white sweater, a pencil hanging above his left ear.

“I’ve always loved books,” he said. “I figured if I worked at it, I could make a living out of it. It’s worked out alright.”

Carlson worked in magazine advertising sales for 25 years before starting a second life operating the bookstore in 1978, he said.

He chose the location, 1712 Sherman Ave. — technically in the downtown area of Evanston but tucked away in an alley – so the store could be accessible, but only to those who were interested enough in books to venture down the alley.

The store has suffered in today’s rough economy, Carlson said.

“Sales barely exist these days,” he said. “Like most small businesses that aren’t dealing in essentials, September was like locking my door, and it continues to be something like that.”

Still, the long-time owner has no plans to give up the store.

“I expect to continue to run it,” he said with a chuckle. “I continue to enjoy it. I just have more leisure time than I need.”