On any given Sunday, the massive American Dream mall in New Jersey allows visitors to hit an indoor ski slope, surf an artificial wave, ride roller coasters — or shop for a new outfit at dozens of big-name retail stores.
One of those things is a problem, argues a new lawsuit against the massive entertainment and retail complex in East Rutherford – and it isn’t the thrillseekers.
American Dream, the suit from officials in nearby Paramus contends, is running afoul of a county law that has long prohibited the sale of nonessential items such as clothing, appliances and furniture on Sundays.
Such “blue laws” date back centuries in New Jersey and were originally rooted in religion. But modern proponents say they offer a welcome break for locals from traffic and noise in a region near New York City that’s teeming with shoppers throughout the week.
Officials in Paramus, a major shopping hub that boasts three large malls and miles of strip malls, say nearly every other retail store in the county is closed to shoppers on Sundays.
That was originally the plan for American Dream when it opened in 2019, adjacent to MetLife Stadium, where the NFL’s Jets and Giants play. Retail stores would close on Sunday, while the theme parks in the mall would remain open — but a report by NorthJersey.com in January says retailers there had also been opening their doors the extra day for nearly a year.
There might be some weird wording in the law or how the article is reporting on it, but those things feel pretty damn essential to me.
Good thing it’s legal to walk around naked since clothing isn’t essential.
Oh, you need a new fridge so that you can store food or medication? Sorry, appliances are nonessential.
Beds, chairs, tables, etc, who needs those?
Buy a sack of potatoes. No refrigeration needed and you can even use those potatoes to grow more potatoes. Cut two arm holes and one neck hole in the sack and now you have a shift, no need to buy clothes. Piles of raw potatoes make perfect furniture (chair, table, pantry shelf, etc.) Cook and mash potatoes, eat some and spread the rest on the floor for a nice, soft, warm bed.
Problem solved.
Irish problems require Irish solutions.