New Jersey backs American Dream’s Sunday shopping hours
Triple Five’s mega-mall in the New Jersey Meadowlands has secured a strong ally in its contesting of a lawsuit filed against it by the city of Paramus.
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) is backing American Dream’s opposition of the filing, which argues that that the 3 million-sq.-ft. mall is violating Bergen County’s Blue Laws by allowing more than 120 tenants to operate on Sundays, according to a report in the New Jersey Digest.
The suit seeks fines of up to $5,000 per violation, claiming that American Dream’s Sunday openings constitute a public nuisance.
The Meadowlands — an 8,400-acre ecosystem of wetlands that sits across the Hudson River from Manhattan — also includes portions of Jersey City, Kearny, and Secaucus, which are situated in New Jersey’s Hudson County.
Bergen County’s Blue Laws restricts the sale of clothing, furniture, appliances, and building materials on Sundays.
The Digest reported that the local populace is divided over the Sunday shopping issue, with many in favor of Sunday restrictions and others fed up with what they call an “outdated law.”
In a filing last week, the NJSEA, a defendant in the lawsuit, argued that Paramus failed to follow required legal procedures prior to suing and lacks standing to enforce a countywide law.
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.
The Authority further contended that Paramus cannot claim harm on behalf of Bergen County residents and suggested that Sunday operations have no direct impact on the borough’s municipal operations.
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 Critics argue they are outdated and bad for business.
