Jose and Jesus Ruiz opened Ruiz Brothers Printing Co. in 1947 at 3916 Alameda Ave. in El Paso, Texas. Jose bought his brother’s shares in 1952, and the company became Jose Ruiz Printing. Threatened by impending freeway construction and fearing displacement, Jose purchased his own building and moved the company down the street to 3409 Alameda, where he and his daughters Alicia, Rosario, and Elena helped their father run the business until Jose’s passing in 1985.

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Elena’s son David grew up in his grandfather’s shop, becoming Jose’s apprentice from the time he was 8 years old. After his grandfather’s passing, David spent a combined 23 years with Harland Checkprinters of El Paso, Quality Graphics & Forms, and Airport Printing, Inc. Having also worked at Quality Graphics & Forms during college, David’s wife Noemi had come to know the printing industry, learning to estimate and attending industry trade shows in Chicago. After graduating from UTEP, Noemi worked in IT for four years for YISD and EPCC, spent four years as an educator for EPISD, and later spent four years in Pharmaceutical Sales Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

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In October of 2008, Noemi and David left their respective careers and opened the doors to Tovar Printing, Inc. at 645 Wallenberg Dr., where David’s mom Elena joined the two of them to handle their accounting.

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In January of 2014, David and Noemi followed in his grandfather’s footsteps, purchasing their own building at 1230 Texas Ave., just down the street from where Jose’s shop once stood. Tovar Printing, Inc. is opened from Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, but they’ll hang around for you if they know you’re coming.