50 September 5 • 2019
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Cobo Center Gets New Name
Gary Torgow unveils new TCF Center signage.
T
he center formally known
as Cobo got a new name on
Tuesday, Aug. 27, revealed
by TCF Executive Chairman Gary
Torgow and TCF President and CEO
Craig Dahl with the
help of Gov. Gretchen
Whitmer, Detroit Mayor
Mike Duggan, U.S. Sen.
Debbie Stabenow and
other dignitaries.
The name change
breaks the center’
s ties
to former Detroit mayor Albert Cobo,
who served from 1950 to 1957 and
whose policies sought to keep blacks
out of predominantly white neighbor-
hoods.
“Today, a name of
the past comes down
from these walls,
”
Torgow said at the
unveiling, “and we
proudly and honor-
ably replace it with a
name that stands for
community and inclu-
sion and a powerful future for everyone
who is associated with it.
”
Torgow made an impact in real estate
with his company the Sterling Group
before he turned to banking in 2010
with the purchase of a single bank
branch. Through multiple acquisitions
of distressed banks, Torgow and his
partner, David Provost, built what
became Talmer Bank into a $7 billion
operation with dozens of branch offices
in Midwest states. Talmer Bank merged
with Chemical Bank, of which Torgow
was chairman. Earlier this month, a
merger between TCF Financial and
Chemical Bank was finalized.
Torgow has been actively involved in
the revitalization of Detroit, especially
its neighborhoods. Last year, as part
of the Strategic Neighborhood Fund,
he brought together seven companies,
which pledged $5 million each to the
fund.
“When we’
ve had tough times in
Detroit, Gary Torgow has been there,
”
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing,
said of the Detroit native. “He is one
of the visionaries and the leaders that
have helped to bring back not only
Downtown but support what is hap-
pening in the neighborhoods.
”
Since 2014, Chemical Bank’
s lead-
ership has pledged $1 million over
five years to help renovate homes
in the neighborhood surrounding
Marygrove College. It also provides
up to $2,500 in closing-cost assistance
to low- and moderate-income house-
holds in the city.
Torgow is also active in
the Detroit Jewish commu-
nity, serving on the boards
of the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit, as
senior vice president of the
Orthodox Union, as board
president of Yeshiva Beth
Yehudah and chairman of the Mosaic
United Steering Committee, an Israeli
Jewish initiative for the benefit of the
diaspora Jewry.
“I can’
t think of better partners
than Gary Torgow and the team at
TCF Bank to help secure the future
of our region’
s convention center,”
said Mayor Mike Duggan. “Today’
s
announcement, combined with
TCF’
s commitment to build its new
headquarters in Downtown Detroit
and Gary’
s leadership building our
Strategic Neighborhood Fund, shows
TCF Bank is truly invested in our city
and its people.”
The unveiling event was followed
by a free block party outside of TCF
Center open to all who call the city
home. ■
business
JACKIE HEADAPOHL ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Gary Torgow
TCF Center
MICHAEL BARERA, WIKIPEDIA
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