Tanger outlet centers seek eating record

More than 1,000 Long Islanders are expected to show up at the Tanger Outlet Centers in Deer Park and Riverhead on Thursday to help the national outlet chain celebrate its 30th birthday by breaking a Guinness record.

All they have to do is eat some brownies or cookies.

The Tanger chain, which has 34 outlet malls in 22 states, will be trying to break the Guinness world record for the biggest dessert party, and it will take a lot of exquisitely-timed eating to do it.

"We wanted to do something festive. That's what they gave us," said Tanger corporate communications vice president Mona Walsh.

Tanger malls across the country have been inviting people to come to the parties from 2:30 to 4 p.m., but the "official" eating must take place over just 15 minutes -- from 3 to 3:15 p.m. local time.

Parties in other states will take place simultaneously.

Tanger in Riverhead is putting up three tents near its Saks store, while the Deer Park outlet is using an empty storefront. In Riverhead, students from Suffolk County Community College's Culinary Arts Institute are baking brownies, cookies and cupcakes that will be given out at the outlet center, which is a few miles from the school.

The timing is important because the corporate headquarters has to notify Guinness in time for the award to be verified and announced by its chief executive, Steven Tanger, when he rings the 4 p.m. closing bell that day at the New York Stock Exchange.

"This all has to be done simultaneously," said Deer Park spokeswoman Vanessa Mitton. "People at the entrance will click people in. There will be an observer for every 50 people, to be sure they are all eating dessert at the same time."