Paramus has taken legal action against the American Dream mall, claiming the retail complex is breaking Bergen County’s long-standing blue laws by allowing stores to open on Sundays.
The town filed a lawsuit in Superior Court, alleging more than 120 retailers at the East Rutherford mall continue to sell clothing, furniture and other restricted goods in violation of the county law. It also names Bergen County, East Rutherford and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which owns the site, as defendants.
Mall operators maintain the restrictions do not apply because the property is state-owned and has permitted Sunday retail activity for decades. The suit points to online listings and billboards advertising Sunday hours as evidence of ongoing violations.
Bergen County’s Sunday ban dates back to a 1798 statute and was reaffirmed by voters in 1980. While most counties in New Jersey have repealed similar laws, Bergen has kept them in place, often citing traffic concerns as the reason. Paramus later adopted stricter ordinances to further limit weekend congestion near its shopping centers.
The complaint seeks escalating fines starting at $250 and rising to $5,000 for repeated offenses. Officials argue violations have occurred hundreds of times in recent months, but questions remain over which agency is responsible for enforcement.
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