After months of legal battle, American Dream Mall has gained a powerful ally in its fight over Sunday shopping in Bergen County.
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA), which owns the land that the East Rutherford mega-mall is built on, is backing American Dream in a lawsuit brought by the borough of Paramus over the county’s longstanding ban on Sunday retail sales known as Blue Laws.
Paramus filed suit in August, arguing that American Dream has violated Bergen County’s Blue Laws by allowing more than 120 retail tenants to operate on Sundays. The borough claims the mall has ignored the restrictions since at least January 2025. Because of the alleged disregard for the law, they are seeking fines of up to $5,000 per violation, along with a formal declaration that the mall’s actions constitute a public nuisance.
Bergen County is the only remaining county in New Jersey to maintain a Sunday shopping ban. The law restricts the sale of clothing, furniture, appliances, and building materials. Despite repeated challenges over the years, the policy remains popular among many residents and retailers for a variety of reasons. However, other residents are fed up with what they call an “outdated” law.
American Dream began promoting Sunday shopping earlier this year, triggering the dispute with Paramus, one of the nation’s highest-grossing retail municipalities with more than $6 billion in annual sales.
The NJSEA, a defendant in the lawsuit, has moved to dismiss a majority of the claims. In a filing last week, the authority argued that Paramus failed to follow required legal procedures before suing and lacks standing to enforce a countywide law.
NJESA also contends that Paramus cannot claim harm on behalf of Bergen County residents and the authority suggests that Sunday operations at American Dream have no direct impact on the borough’s municipal operations.
Additionally, the NJSEA maintains that its lease with American Dream does not require it to enforce the Blue Laws and that oversight of the mall should not be dictated by a neighboring municipality.
American Dream is located in East Rutherford, within Bergen County. The case is pending in New Jersey Superior Court in Bergen County.
What Are Blue Laws?
Blue Laws are long-standing rules that restrict retail such as clothing, furniture, appliances, and more on Sundays, originally tied to religious observance. Groceries are permitted.
Most states have rolled back these laws long ago, but Bergen County remains the lone county in New Jersey with a broad Sunday shopping ban. Supporters say the rules limit traffic and preserve a weekly pause. Critics argue they are outdated and bad for business.
Blue Laws remain a point of contention, especially when major retailers challenge their reach.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.