50 September 5 • 2019
jn

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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