Controversy at New Jersey’s American Dream Mall: Lawsuit Filed Over Sunday Clothing Sales

On any given Sunday, the massive American Dream mall in New Jersey buzzes with activity. Visitors can ski indoors, surf artificial waves, or enjoy roller coasters. But one thing is stirring up controversy: shopping.

A recent lawsuit claims that American Dream is breaking county laws by selling nonessential items like clothing on Sundays. These laws, often called “blue laws,” have roots in religious traditions and aim to give locals a break from the usual hustle and bustle, especially near busy New York City.

In Paramus, where large shopping centers dominate, nearly all other retail stores close on Sundays. When American Dream opened in 2019, the plan was to keep retailers closed that day, with only the entertainment areas open. However, it seems some stores have started operating on Sundays irrespective of this agreement.

The lawsuit states that these businesses have repeatedly violated the law since January. American Dream argues that this law does not apply to them because they’re on state-owned property. They labeled the lawsuit as a baseless political maneuver initiated by competitors.

Paramus Mayor Christopher DiPiazza has stated that American Dream had committed to following the blue laws when they opened. A transcript from a 2011 hearing reveals that developers believed these laws would limit traffic and distractions around the mall. Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco supported this, noting that the mall’s operators had promised to keep retail closed on Sundays, which would prevent unfair competition with other local businesses.

Interestingly, New Jersey’s blue laws were once much stricter, limiting not only shopping but also leisure activities on Sundays. While many counties have relaxed these laws, Bergen County has maintained them, consistently choosing to uphold the regulations that many locals support.

The current debate may reflect growing tensions between modern retail demands and traditional community values. As consumer habits evolve, local laws will have to adapt, possibly leading to further changes in how we view Sundays in retail culture.

For further reading on blue laws and their history in New Jersey, you can check out this report from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Source link

New Jersey, Lawsuits, Retail and wholesale, Legal proceedings, General news, Domestic News, New York, Tony Armlin, Business, Lifestyle, Christopher DiPiazza, Jim Tedesco, U.S. news, U.S. News