The publication known today
as “the little Blue Book” began in 1948 as a community service
directory originated by Matthew Gobel, an advertising manager
for the Grosse Pointe News and Diamond Phillips, a prominent
Detroit restaurateur. |
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The directory was
sold to Parish Publications, publishers of church bulletins.
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The publication
once again changed hands and was purchased by a local, retired
auto salesman, A.J. “Bud” Towar. Mr. Towar had been looking
for a small, part-time business to defray the cost of his green
fees, and the directory seemed the perfect solution.
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Enter the daughter.
Following an eight-year stay in Utah, Bud's daughter Kimbriel
returned to the family business. Although Bud stayed involved,
he sold the business to Kimbriel who, armed with her knowledge
of computers, brought the publication up-to-date by adding an
in-house graphics department, 10 new employees and expanding
the directory to St. Clair Shores in 1990.
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The expansion of
the publication prompted a move to a turn-of-the-century building
located on the corner of Mack Avenue and Nottingham in Grosse
Pointe Park. It was not discovered until months later that this
same building had housed “the little Blue Book” during its formative
years. The Blue Book staff continues to publish two
local directories. Bud Towar passed away in 1994, leaving the
business in the capable hands of his daughter Kimbriel who has
continued the Grosse Pointe tradition begun more than half a
century ago.
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