Jim Toole, 1937 – 2023 (photo: Capitol Hill Books)
Capitol Hill’s Legendary Bookseller Jim Toole Dies
By Larry Janezich
Posted November 12, 2023
Capitol Hill Books at 657 C Street, SE, on Sunday afternoon.
The shock of the death of Morton “Jim” Toole – legendary former owner of Capitol Hill Books – spread through the Capitol Hill book-loving community on Sunday.
Toole collapsed on his way home after having dinner at Tunnicliff’s on Saturday night. He was 86.
Toole owned and operated Capitol Hill Books from 1995 until July of 2018 when he sold the business to long time employees and friends of the store. According to their website, the new owners vowed to preserve the fiercely independent spirit of the bookstore and ensure it maintains its place as a literary hub of the community.
Toole was a retired Navy rear admiral – a veteran of the Vietnam War – with a degree in history from UCLA and a Master’s from American University. One of Toole’s long time friends noted that his death on Veteran’s Day was a fitting and poetic way to go.
Toole’s wit and finely tuned curmudgeoness enlivened the structured disorganization that characterized the nationally known eclectic bookshop.
Those qualities were evidenced by these 2014 photos of signage advising and admonishing patrons who browsed the three floors of used and rare books.
Capitol Hill Books was opened in 1991 by Bill Kerr, a graduate of Wayward Books – another beloved used bookstore located at 725 7th Street, SE. Wayward Books relocated to Maine in 1990. Kerr – who worked at the Washington Post – opened his own store around the corner at 657 C Street, SE.
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 
He was quite the character. Once, I asked him if he had any foreign language books. He told me that I good find them in the bathroom as that was the only appropriate place for any books not written in English.
You wrote a good obituary!
The ‘words not spoken here’ was funny in how dated it was even when semi-enforced (no “rad”?). I never understood the “Have a good one” inclusion. It’s such a common usage line in DMV region that I’ve come to adopt it over the years as it’s innocuous enough. It’s not like someone saying “Smell you later.”
I’m sorry to read that Toole died; I will miss him, his wit and knowledge. Jim continued to work at the bookstore, at least occasionally, and I was pleased to see him there 2 or 3 weeks ago. He told me where to find a specific book; “but you’ll have to go upstairs” he said, as if wondering if I was up for the climb.