American Dream Mall Faces Lawsuit for Allegedly Operating Illegally on Sundays

The American Dream mall, an enormous retail and entertainment complex located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is facing legal action for allegedly operating illegally on Sundays. The lawsuit, filed by officials from Paramus on Monday, contends that the mall is violating Bergen County’s longstanding “Blue Laws,” which traditionally prohibit most retail businesses from opening on Sundays.

These laws have been a fixture in Bergen County, where virtually all shops remain closed on Sundays, allowing only essential businesses such as supermarkets, gas stations, restaurants, and pharmacies to operate. Notably, Bergen County is one of the few counties in New Jersey that has retained these Sunday shopping restrictions, unlike the majority of the state, which abandoned similar bans following a legal change in 1959.

Central to the lawsuit is the claim that the American Dream mall actively advertises its Sunday operations. This includes messaging displayed on electronic billboards situated outside the mall and information on its website stating that all stores are open on Sundays. The complaint alleges that various businesses within the mall, encouraged by its owners, have repeatedly violated these laws “hundreds if not thousands of times” since January of this year.

The American Dream, which opened its doors in 2019, is notable as the second-largest retail and entertainment center in the United States. It began its Sunday operations in 2022, drawing increased scrutiny from local officials. In addition to targeting the mall’s ownership, the lawsuit also names the county, the borough of East Rutherford, and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the governmental body that owns the land on which the mall operates.

A representative for the American Dream mall emphasized that Bergen County’s Blue Laws do not apply to state-owned property, asserting that the mall has been operating retail sales on Sundays for decades as a part of its rightful use of the land. The spokesperson expressed anticipation for their upcoming court hearing.

The legal action aims not only to address the alleged violations of the Blue Laws but also seeks to label the mall a public nuisance and impose fines for each instance of unlawful operation. With over 120 retail stores, the American Dream mall continues to be a focal point in this debate between local law enforcement and state property rights. The outcome of this case may have broader implications for the interpretation and enforcement of Blue Laws in New Jersey.