AMERICA’S second-largest mall is facing a lawsuit this month due to its hours of operation.
The shopping center is relatively new, only having been completed about six years ago after extensive development delays.
A beloved mall is now facing a lawsuit (stock image)[/caption]
Today, many consumers attend the American Dream mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, about 10 miles northeast of Newark.
Like several throughout the United States, American Dream is open seven days a week, including Sundays.
This has been a point of contention from the New Jersey town of Paramus, who has accused American Dream in its recent suit that the retail and entertainment complex is violating “blue laws” in Bergen County, per The New York Times.
Blue laws have been around for a long time in some areas, and specifically restrict work, entertainment, or the sale of certain nonessential goods on Sundays or religious holidays.
It originates from the enforcement of the Christian Sabbath, and while most US states have repealed blue laws over the years, New Jersey still has them in select areas.
This has created a clash between residents as to whether or not “tradition” should be followed or modern commerce be free to flourish, with American Dream a prime example of modern commerce.
According to the suit from Paramus, American Dream has allegedly “violated the [blue] law hundreds if not thousands of times since January.”
Paramus also claimed that the law-breaking was also done “with the encouragement and support of the mall’s ownership.”
Christopher DiPiazza, Paramus’ mayor, also dubbed American Dream’s operations on Sunday “unfair,” putting other small businesses and their employees at a significant disadvantage.
“This can hurt the taxpayers and residents that I serve,” DiPiazza said in a statement.
East Rutherford and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority are also being included in the suit due to their leasing and ownership of property at the American Dream mall.
American Dream is holding its ground, calling the suit a “meritless political stunt driven by private competitors’ interests,” according to what a spokesperson told Daily Mail.
“It is well established that Bergen County’s Blue Laws do not apply to property owned by the state — American Dream is on state property where retail sales have occurred on Sundays for decades.”
“We look forward to our day in court,” they added.
Top 10 Largest Malls in the United States
- Mall of America – Bloomington, MN
- American Dream – East Rutherford, NJ
- King of Prussia Mall – Prussia, PA
- South Coast Plaza – Costa Mesa, CA
- The Galleria – Houston, TX
- Aventura Mall – Aventura, FL
- Del Amo Fashion Center – Torrance, CA
- Destiny USA – Syracuse, NY
- Ala Moana Center – Honolulu, HI
- Palisades Center – West Nyack, NY
The ongoing lawsuit now marks another complication for American Dream after its long and bumpy journey to completion in 2019.
CONTRUCTION COMPLICATIONS
Ideas for it began as far back as 1996 as part of a vision from The Mills Corp, which had it being built on wetlands in Carlstadt, but this sparked protests due to the potential environmental damage it could cause on native habitats.
Changes were made, and in 2002 the idea came about again, with plans for a $2 billion construction for the mega-mall and an opening date in 2007.
Ownership later changed in 2006, leading to delays, controversial design decisions, a bankruptcy from a construction lender, and even severe damage from snow.
Finally, in 2013, construction reignited and continued (aside from a brief pause again in 2016) until it was finally completed in 2019 with a total price tag of $5 billion.
In 2025, American Dream has more than 450 stores, 100 restaurants, DreamWorks Water Park, Nickelodeon Universe, and more.
American Dream is still beaten out by the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, which stands at around 5.6 million square feet with over 500 stores and an indoor theme park.
MALL MELTDOWN?
Malls, in general, are also struggling to stay afloat in the United States, according to data from Capital One Shopping.
As of April of this year, about 1,200 malls remain in operation, but projections show that by 2028, there may be only about 900.
It’s also expected that 87% of large malls may close in the next decade.
Between 2017 and 2022, the number of malls has already declined by about 16.7%, and the nationwide mall vacancy rate is 248% higher than the overall average retail vacancy rate.
An iconic brand and mall-staple was also saved earlier this spring by a $663 million boost from a surprising company.
In May, some mall shoppers also saw a beloved retailer with 130 stores close a popular spot amid transformation promises from the CEO.
