When Leo Romero opened Leo’s Books four years ago, he thought he might want to keep it open four or five years and then move on to something else.

It turned out that four years was exactly the right amount of time to have the bookstore open, Romero said, and at the end of this month, he plans to close the store. “It’s been a great business and I’ve really enjoyed the customers,” he said.

Romero said he got into Santa Fe’s book business 18 years ago when he opened Books & More Books, which he sold after 13 years. Then he took a two-year break from the business and opened Leo’s Books, he said.

“It finally feels like I’ve done it. I don’t need to do a bookstore anymore,” Romero said.

Although Leo’s Books sold all types of books, the store specialized in art, history and photography books, Romero said. He sold his inventory to Page One, Too; Antiquarian Books in Albuquerque, he said.

Helen MacLeod, assistant manager at Books & More Books, said everyone at the store was sorry to hear that Romero was closing the store. Romero kept in touch with the people at Books & More Books over the years, she said.

“He would send people over here and we would send people over there,” MacLeod said. “We had a nice reciprocal relationship.”

Books & More Books specializes in art, photography, literature, history and psychology books, MacLeod said.

As for why Romero decided to close his store, Romero said he believes Santa Fe’s rents for businesses have become too high, and that was one factor in his decision to close. “I think that’s difficult for my small business,” he said.

Romero declined to say how much he paid for rent.

But the usual suspect in the demise of many small, independent bookstores — big chain stores — wasn’t a factor, Romero said. Most of the books he sold were art and photography books, so he wasn’t really in competition with the bigger stores, he said.

Romero said he is not sure what he plans to do next. Romero is a writer, and has published two books of poetry and a book of fiction, and he is always writing, he said. He is also an artist — several of his ink drawings are on display at the store — and he’ll continue to draw, he said.

“This feels like a second retirement for me,” Romero said.

Until the store closes, Leo’s Books will be open from 12 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and people can come in and buy bookcases, desks and art and photography books, Romero said. The store is at 825 Cerrillos Road

Contact Wendy Brown at 986-3072 or wbrown@sfnewmexican.com.