New Jersey’s American Dream Mall Sued for Selling Clothes on a Sunday

On any given Sunday, visitors to the massive American Dream mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, can ski indoors, surf an artificial wave, ride roller coasters — or shop for a new outfit at dozens of big-name retail stores.

Officials in nearby Paramus argue that the mall is violating a long-standing Bergen County law that prohibits the Sunday sale of nonessential items such as clothing, appliances, and furniture. (Photo: American Dream)

One of those activities is now the subject of a lawsuit, Bruce Shipkowski and Philip Marcelo reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Officials in nearby Paramus argue that the mall is violating a long-standing Bergen County law that prohibits the Sunday sale of nonessential items such as clothing, appliances, and furniture.

These so-called “blue laws” date back centuries in New Jersey and were originally rooted in religion, though modern supporters say they provide locals with a break from traffic and noise in the densely populated region near New York City.

Paramus, a major shopping hub with three large malls and miles of strip malls, enforces the law strictly — nearly every other retail store in the county is closed on Sundays.

That was supposed to be the case for American Dream when it opened in 2019 next to MetLife Stadium, home of the NFL’s Jets and Giants. Retailers were meant to close on Sundays while the mall’s entertainment attractions stayed open.

But according to a January report by NorthJersey.com, many stores at American Dream had been quietly opening on Sundays for nearly a year, drawing fresh scrutiny from local officials.