Controversy over the effectiveness of the “blue law,” which restricts Sunday retail sales in Bergen County, New Jersey, persists, leading to speculation that it could be abolished depending on the outcome of ongoing lawsuits. According to a report by The Record on the 9th, the Paramus town government filed a lawsuit alleging that the massive shopping mall “American Dream” in East Rutherford violated the blue law. Meanwhile, it has been reported that three major shopping malls in Paramus have stated that they would also disregard the blue law if American Dream continued to operate on Sundays.
The blue law is a regulation that prohibits businesses from operating on Sundays, excluding essential retail sectors such as food, restaurants, bakeries, gas stations, and pharmacies, in accordance with Christian Sabbath traditions. While
blue laws have largely been abolished across the United States, they remain in effect in Bergen County, New Jersey. Consequently, retail stores in Bergen County are not permitted to sell items such as furniture, clothing, and home appliances on Sundays. However, all approximately 120 stores located at the American Dream Mall, which opened in 2019, operate without restrictions even on Sundays. This is because the site is owned by the New Jersey State Authority for Sports and Expo, meaning it is not subject to the Blue Law.
In response, the Paramus Township government has filed a lawsuit against the American Dream Mall in state court. The plaintiffs argue that while Paramus is home to numerous large malls like the Garden State Plaza and various retail stores, most close on Sundays in accordance with the Blue Law, whereas the American Dream Mall is disregarding it. The issue of who is effectively responsible for enforcing the Blue Law is also coming to the fore.
The Paramus Township government has raised concerns, stating, “Relevant authorities, such as the Bergen County government, are aware that the American Dream Mall continues to violate the Blue Law but are failing to enforce the law.” Neither the East Rutherford Township government, where the American Dream Mall is located, nor the State Authority for Sports and Expo, which owns the site, have issued a clear stance regarding the enforcement of the Blue Law.
In this regard, legal experts pointed out, “This lawsuit raises fundamental questions about whether Bergen County residents want the Blue Law,” adding that “depending on the outcome of the lawsuit, there could be a movement within Bergen County political circles to abolish the Blue Law.”