According to the lawsuit, Bergen County residents agreed to maintain the law in November 1980, but American Dream businesses do not support it.
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Officials in the Borough of New Jersey deemed the area mall “a public nuisance” and accused the owner of breaking 44-year-old laws by selling clothing, furniture and other items on Sunday, according to the lawsuit.
The suit was filed by officials from Paramus, an autonomous borough about six miles northwest of Hackensack, according to a lawsuit obtained by USA Today. Mayor of Paramus Christopher Dipiazza and other district councils have signed the lawsuit, their attorney Richard Maraghière confirmed with USA Today on August 29th.
In a lawsuit filed in New Jersey Superior Court on Aug. 25, Paramus officials alleged that the owner of the 3 million square foot American Dream Mall violated the “blue law.” The law prohibits the sale of not only home, business and office appliances on Sundays, but also clothing, buildings, timber supplies, household furniture and business office furniture.
Paramus officials argue that the blue law is effective only if the county chooses to follow them through a citizen referendum. Bergen County residents agreed to support the law, but American Dream businesses do not support it, the lawsuit says.
“These companies have violated the Act hundreds, if not hundreds, if not thousands, since January this year, with the encouragement and support of mall ownership and the acquiescence of other defendants,” the lawsuit reads.
The mall previously supported the Sunday rule, but in 2024, businesses began opening on Sunday. The disregard for mall rules was first reported by Bergen Record in January 2025, part of the USA Today Network. At the time, newspapers said the mall was open on Sundays for at least a year.
Paramus officials said in the lawsuit that businesses that violate the law and sell prohibited items on Sundays could be fined or closed after many violations. Officials added that they would like to encourage mall owners to follow the law.
The Associated Press said Paramus Mayor Christopher Dipiazza said the American Dream was “a record promise.”
The lawsuit comes against the mall’s owners, America LLC, the Borough of East Rutherford (where the mall is), Bergen County, and the New Jersey Sports Expo (NJSEA), which owns facilities run by the American Dream.
“Littlement is a useless political stunt driven by the interests of private competitors,” Americ Dream said in a statement obtained by the AP.
USA Today contacted Dipiazza and all appointed parties for comment on Friday, August 29th, but only received responses from officials from the NJSEA and Bergen County. The New Jersey Department of Sports and Expo declined to comment, citing the pending lawsuit.
In a statement to USA Today, Bergen County executive Jim Tedesco said he respects the blue law because it protects the quality of life of residents and allows retail workers to take time off. He said the lawsuit was about “fairness.”
“They broke that promise.”
“When the American Dream was preparing to open, the operator personally assured me and them that they would respect Sunday closure laws and leave retail doors closed,” Tedesco said. “They broke that promise.”
In a statement, he added that the mall’s decision to open on Sunday violates the law and gives it “unfair advantages” to businesses in Bergen County that follow the law.
Located in East Rutherford, the American Dream is the second largest retail and entertainment center in the United States, behind Minnesota’s Mall of America. According to a visit to New Jersey, there are over 400 stores.
The mall’s website lists retail and food courts Sundays from 11am to 7pm and Avenue from 12pm to 6pm.
Residents voted 44 years ago to ban the sale of retail items
According to the National Association for Alcoholic Beverage Control, one of the first blue laws is often thought to have been officially made in 1617 in Virginia. According to the association, the colony required citizens to attend churches and allowed militias to enforce the rules. In the early 19th century, activists pushed on Sunday to prevent commercial or “immoral” activities, the association added.
The U.S. Supreme Court has held that laws restricting Sunday activities may not be unconstitutional. Case of 1961 McGowanv. In Maryland, the court upheld a law prohibiting the sale of goods on Sunday. The court said the purpose behind the law is to ensure the health, safety, recreation and general well-being of all people, regardless of their religious affiliation.
Blue’s law is a colonial date based on Christian tradition and is backed by the local Paramus ordinance, reported by Bergen Record, part of the USA Today Network. The law was established in 1704 and codified in 1798. Meanwhile, it was applied statewide and was far stricter than current Sunday-specific regulations. They also banned leisure activities and essential travel.
Residents agreed to maintain the law in 1980, according to a local government secretary in Wyckoff, a township near Bergen County. In November 1993, a countywide referendum to lift the Sunday sales ban was defeated by one vote from one to one voter in Bergen County.
The lawsuit alleges that Mall has broken the law. It includes a photo of a mall sign that says “All stores will open on Sundays.”
Saleen Martin is a reporter for the USA Today Now team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia. 757. Please email sdmartin@usatoday.com.
