The centuries-old New Jersey legislation had religious roots
A lawsuit filed by Paramus, New Jersey officials alleges that the American Dream mall in East Rutherford is violating a county law by selling non-essential goods on Sundays, reported the Associated Press.
The centuries-old legislation, which has religious roots, covers the sale of clothing, appliances, and furniture. Modern arguments for the law focus on giving the locals relief from traffic and noise, and per the officials, almost all other retail shops are shuttered on Sundays.
When American Dream opened near MetLife Stadium in 2019, retail stores was supposed to be closed on Sundays, but its theme parks – which include attractions like the indoor ski slope, artificial wave park, and roller coasters – would stay operational.
However, a January NorthJersey.com report revealed that retailers had been opening on Sundays for almost a year.
“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 officials said in a snippet of the suit published by AP News.
American Dream countered that it was not beholden to Bergen County “blue laws” because it was situated on state-owned property. The company described the suit, which was filed in New Jersey Superior Court, as “a meritless political stunt driven by private competitors’ interests,” per a statement published by AP News.
Paramus mayor Christopher DiPiazza claimed in a statement published by AP News that American Dream “promised on record” that it would be subject to the laws when it opened. Bergen County executive Jim Tedesco added that American Dream operators had offered personal assurance that retailers would be closed on Sundays.
“They broke that promise. Their decision to operate retail on Sundays not only violates state statute, it gives them an unfair advantage over every other business in Bergen County that is following the law,” Tedesco said in a statement published by AP News.
Per a transcript from a 2011 public hearing, Tony Armlin, who was vice president of development and construction for mall owner Triple Five at the time, said the legislation’s banning of retail activities on Sundays hindered the effect of traffic.
Tedesco is named in the lawsuit along with the borough of East Rutherford and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. The East Rutherford mayor did not respond to a request for comment while NJSEA and the state attorney general’s office said they did not comment on pending litigation.
