Stanley Tanger

Stanley K. Tanger (April 13, 1923 – October 23, 2010^[1]) was an American businessman, philanthropist and pioneer of the outlet shopping industry. Tanger founded Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, which began with a single location in Burlington, North Carolina in 1981,^[2] and now has 45 shopping centers throughout the United States and Canada as of April, 2015.^[3] In doing so, he invented "the very concept of the outlet mall", according to the News & Record of Greensboro, North Carolina.^[1] Tanger Outlets grossed $270 million in 2009.^[1]

Tanger was the son of Harriette and Moe Tanger, who were from Wallingford, Connecticut. Tanger served as a pilot during World War II.^[1] After World War II, Tanger began to run Creighton Shirtmakers, the family business in Reidsville, North Carolina.^[1] Under Tanger, Creighton Shirtmakers expanded to five outlet stores.^[1] Tanger soon organized other similar businesses and manufacturer outlets into a small, brand name outlet strip mall in Burlington, North Carolina in the early 1981.^[1][2]

The company, now known as Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, had since expanded to more than forty-one outlet centers in twenty-five U.S. states and four in Canada, as of April, 2015.^[4] In 1993, Tanger Factory Outlet Centers became the first outlet developer to be publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.^[1][2]

Real Estate by Inc. Magazine named Tanger as "Entrepreneur of the Year" in 1994.^[2] Tanger remained chairman of Tanger's board of directors until his retirement from a daily role with the company on August 7, 2009.^[5] He resigned as chairman of the board in September 2009,^[5] but remained a member of Tanger's board of directors until his death in 2010.^[2]

Tanger and his wife, Doris Tanger, a breast cancer survivor, ^[1] were local, North Carolina philanthropists. Much of Tanger's philanthropy focused on breast cancer awareness, including a one-million-dollar contribution to Moses Cone Health System's Regional Cancer Center in Greensboro.^[1] Tanger also funded a variety of beautification projects throughout the city of Greensboro, including the creation and preservation of city parks, including the Bicentennial Gardens.^[1]

Stanley Tanger, a resident of Greensboro, died of pneumonia on October 23, 2010, aged 87.^[1] He was survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Doris Tanger, and his children and grandchildren. Tanger's funeral was held at Temple Emanuel, a Reform Judaism congregation in Greensboro.^[1] His son, Steven, was named President and CEO of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers in January 2010.^[1][5]

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