A new lawsuit alleges that the American Dream mall in New Jersey is violating a local 'blue law' by allowing retail stores to sell nonessential items such as clothing on Sundays. The suit, filed by officials from the nearby town of Paramus, claims the mall is breaking a Bergen County ordinance that has long prohibited such sales.
The blue law, rooted in religious tradition, is still enforced in Bergen County to provide residents with a break from traffic and noise. Paramus officials argue that nearly every other retail store in the county closes on Sundays, while American Dream has allowed its retailers to open since January 2023, giving them an unfair advantage.
American Dream, which opened in 2019 and features an indoor ski slope, artificial wave, and roller coasters, initially agreed to keep retail closed on Sundays. However, a report in January revealed that stores had been operating on Sundays for nearly a year. The mall's owners argue that the blue law does not apply because the complex is on state-owned property.
Paramus Mayor Christopher DiPiazza stated that the mall had 'promised on record' to follow the blue law. A 2011 hearing transcript shows a mall executive acknowledging the law would restrict retail activities on Sundays. Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco said the mall's operators 'broke that promise,' giving them an unfair advantage over law-abiding businesses.
The lawsuit also names East Rutherford and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. The NJSEA and state attorney general's office declined to comment. New Jersey's blue laws were once statewide but are now mostly repealed, though Bergen County voters have repeatedly upheld them.
