New Jersey mall sued for Sunday sales of ‘nonessential’ items
The American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is facing a lawsuit filed by the Borough of Paramus, which claims the shopping center is violating Bergen County’s long-standing blue laws by allowing the sale of nonessential items on Sundays.
According to a report by WPIX, Paramus officials argue that the mall’s retailers have repeatedly broken the law by conducting Sunday sales, while nearly all other stores in the county remain closed in compliance with the regulations. “These businesses, with the encouragement and support of the mall’s ownership and the acquiescence of the other defendants here, have violated the law hundreds if not thousands of times since January,” the complaint alleges.
Blue laws in New Jersey date back centuries, originally rooted in religious observance. Today, many supporters see them as a way to reduce traffic and provide a weekly break from commercial activity.
In response, a spokesperson for American Dream dismissed the lawsuit as politically motivated. “The lawsuit is a meritless political stunt driven by private competitors’ interests,” the spokesperson said. “It is well established that Bergen County’s Blue Laws do not apply to property owned by the State — American Dream is on State property where retail sales have occurred on Sundays for decades. We look forward to our day in court.”
The lawsuit also names the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and the Borough of East Rutherford as defendants. Both the NJSEA and the state attorney general’s office declined to comment.
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