NJ borough sues local mall for being open on Sundays, a ‘blue law’ violation

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00:00A New Jersey borough has filed a lawsuit against a shopping mall for operating on Sundays.

00:07The lawsuit filed by the Paramus Borough against the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New

00:13Jersey, alleges the mall stores, which are open to customers on Sundays, violates Bergen County's

00:20Blue Laws. Blue Laws prohibit certain commercial, industrial, or recreational activities on Sundays

00:26or religious holidays. According to the New York Times, the New Jersey legislature passed

00:31the act to suppress vice and immorality back in 1798, which states, on Sunday, it shall be unlawful

00:38for any person, whether it be at retail, wholesale, or by auction, to sell clothing or wearing apparel,

00:45building and lumber supply materials, furniture, home or business or office furnishings,

00:50household, business or office appliances. Since the law was enacted 227 years ago, every county in

00:58the Garden State has repealed it. However, Bergen County has not. In 1980, voters even decided to

01:04keep the act in place to keep traffic to a minimum in their community on that one day of the week.

01:09This means retail stores, including the ones inside a shopping mall, must be closed on Sundays.

01:15Essential businesses like grocery stores, pharmacies and restaurants are exempt from the law.

01:20Operators for the mall told the Times that the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford is not

01:25subject to local laws, such as Blue Laws, because it was built on state-owned land, which is under

01:31state, not county control. The American Dream Mall is just a 30-minute drive from Manhattan,

01:36featuring high-end retail shops, an indoor wave pool and water park, ice rink, ski slope, and several

01:43dining options. It's the second-largest retail space in America. For Shade Arrow News, I'm Lauren Keenan.

01:49If you want more on this story, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit san.com.