It's Your Business Epiphany Kitchens From Utilitarian To Inspired Epiphany Kitchens designs are from the heart

By Larry O’Connor

For 17 years, Epiphany

Kitchens has excelled by pumping new life into a home’s most under-appreciated space.

“(The kitchen’s) the heart of the home,” said Jay Towar, the remodeling specialist’s effusive founder and president.

The businessman’s astute observation proved true during the pandemic as homebound folks increasingly dined inside. The prolonged sequestration caused many homeowners to yearn for their kitchens to be more than just a placeholder for a fridge, table, and sink.

In such instances, Epiphany’s exquisite craftsmanship and a century of combined expertise became currents pulsating through a home improvement automatic defibrillator. Ornate Amish-built cabinets and being a Galley Workstations specialist only fortified the firm’s sterling reputation.

Epiphany Kitchens serves Northville as well as Plymouth and Novi where homes list anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million and beyond.

Regardless of property values, the home remodeler’s mission remains the same: Transform utilitarian kitchens into tony design spaces where culinary delights are inspired.

“That’s our sweet spot,” Towar said.

Amid chatter about cabinetry and faucets, Epiphany’s climb to one of the area’s premier home-remodeling outfits also deserves a spot on the front burner. Shrewd moves and uncompromising values have punctuated Towar’s trek.

The Northville Hills resident’s commercial savvy has been accrued through four decades of entrepreneurial ventures.

The self-described small business specialist ran a heating and cooling franchise, sold aluminum siding and windows, and righted a refacing business before selling the entire operation to a major home improvement chain.

Those business forays paved Towar’s seamless pivot into kitchen remodeling.

Towar graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in labor relations. He aspired to be a union organizer, but with mass automotive worker layoffs in the mid-1970s, the budding marketing maven found himself in pharmaceutical sales.

After three years toiling in the medical industrial complex, Towar grew disillusioned.

Integrity and instinct guided Towar’s future endeavors, which led him to downtown Northville.

His innate sense for prime locations kicked in as he sat on a downtown bench while enjoying an ice cream. A “For Lease” sign across North Center Street caught his eye.

“I thought to myself, ‘You know that building is so perfect,’” Towar said. “I just called my wife (Sharon) and said, ‘I just had an epiphany: We should go into the high-end kitchen remodeling business, or, maybe not-so-much high end but just do it right.’”

The 107 N. Center Street spot was the ideal launching pad as Epiphany’s sparkling showroom lured numerous walk-in clients. Now the client base is largely from referrals from satisfied customers, Towar said.

His wife of 40 years joined as chief financial officer. The office staff complemented Epiphany’s job site team, which has blossomed into seven crews featuring installers, floor specialists, carpenters, electricians, drywallers, plumbers and painters.

Tony Bronzovich emerged as the firm’s design and project management guru. The Oakland University graduate joined Epiphany in 2006 and has since become a partner. Bronzovich possesses an uncanny knack for transforming customers’ rough kitchen overhaul ideas into dynamic but functional designs, Towar said.

“He’s amazing,” Towar said.

Epiphany’s founder pounced after learning about Bronzovich’s creative flair through another kitchen outfitter.

Towar offered to “overpay” the ballyhooed designer for a six-month trial to get his fledgling enterprise off the ground.

“I said, ‘I think you are pretty talented, but in six months, I am going to know everything you know and probably let you go,” said Towar, recalling the conversation. “He said, ‘Yeah, OK, I’ll do that, but I don’t think you’re going to want to let me go.”

The prospective employee proved prophetic.

After a half-year, Epiphany’s founder offered Bronzovich a 10% stake in the company to remain. Bronzovich’s ownership share has since grown to 15%.

Bronzovich will likely take over when the founder retires, which is not in the immediate future. “I am having too much fun,” Towar said.

To expand its reach beyond kitchens, Epiphany is taking on full-build projects. A designer was hired to help with the burgeoning workload.

As business booms, the company’s founder has grown more philosophical.

“Now, I tend not to work from the pocketbook but more from the heart,” said Towar, who’s contemplating an expansion into Hilton Head, S.C. “So, now strangely enough or appropriately enough, we are more successful than ever before.”

For more information about Epiphany Kitchens, visit www. epiphanykitchens.com or call (248) 697-6215.