Imagine a mega mall where you can ski, surf, and shop, all under one roof — sounds like a dream, right? But in New Jersey, this amusement paradise is tangled in a legal debacle that might just rain on its parade!

The American Dream mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, offers a spectacular array of activities. From gliding down an indoor ski slope to riding roller coasters, it seems like the perfect weekend escape. However, a brewing storm is at hand, and it has nothing to do with the thrill-seeking visitors.

Local officials from Paramus have filed a lawsuit against the complex, arguing that it’s violating a longstanding county law that prohibits the sale of nonessential items, including clothing and appliances, on Sundays. These “blue laws” have a rich history in New Jersey, dating back centuries and initially rooted in religious observance.

Supporters of these laws claim they provide a much-needed respite from the bustling chaos of retail traffic, especially in a region so close to New York City where weekend shopping is at an all-time high.

Paramus, a well-known shopping destination with several large malls and strip malls, insists that nearly every other retail store in the county respects these Sunday closures. Interestingly, this was also the original plan for American Dream when it opened its doors in 2019, right next to MetLife Stadium, the home turf for the NFL's Jets and Giants.

However, as reported by NorthJersey.com earlier this year, it appears that the retailers inside the mall have been flinging those Sunday restrictions aside, opening their doors for business and raking in profits while the rest of the county stays shut. The lawsuit claims that these violations have occurred hundreds, if not thousands, of times since January.

In response, American Dream’s representatives argue that Bergen County's blue laws are inapplicable to the mall because it occupies state-owned property. They dismiss the lawsuit as a “meritless political stunt” influenced by competitors who feel threatened by the mall's success.

But Paramus Mayor Christopher DiPiazza has a different take, revealing that American Dream had publicly committed to adhering to the county’s guidelines. A 2011 public hearing transcript shows Tony Armlin, the former vice president of development for mall owner Triple Five, claiming, “The laws prohibit our ability to have retail activities on Sundays,” pointing to the intention to mitigate traffic.

Jim Tedesco, the executive of Bergen County and a co-defendant in the lawsuit, has echoed this sentiment, stating that American Dream's operators assured him they would enforce the Sunday closures. “They broke that promise,” he lamented. “Their decision to operate retail on Sundays not only violates state statute, it gives them an unfair advantage over every other business in Bergen County that is following the law.”

As if the situation couldn’t get any more complicated, the lawsuit also implicates East Rutherford, with its mayor unavailable for comments, and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which declined to comment due to the ongoing litigation.

New Jersey's blue laws initially held stricter regulations statewide, banning not only business operations but also leisure and nonessential travel, with proponents insisting on the moral obligation to protect the Sabbath. Although many counties have since repealed these laws, Bergen County leaders have consistently resisted such changes, keeping the measures alive — which, while exempting grocery and drug stores, still stands firm with the support of county voters.