What alias does George invent in 'The Stake Out' as an importer-exporter?

In “The Stake Out,” George invents the importer-exporter alias Art Vandelay. While helping Jerry track down Vanessa at her workplace, George improvises a cover story about a lunch meeting and initially mentions “Art Corvelay” before changing the name to Art Vandelay.

The episode, written by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, is the second broadcast episode of the series and first aired on May 31, 1990. George’s imaginary businessman quickly became one of Seinfeld’s most durable running gags, along with his claim that he wants to be an architect.

Art Vandelay is specifically George’s alias here, not one of Kramer’s many assumed identities. Kramer later uses names such as H. E. Pennypacker and Dr. Martin van Nostrand, which can make the show’s invented names easy to mix up.

“The Stake Out” also establishes important series history: it is the first episode to feature Jerry’s parents and the first broadcast episode to discuss Jerry and Elaine’s past relationship. The alias returns repeatedly in later stories involving George’s supposed business career.