New Jersey man goes to Walmart. Then he learns the hard way it’s illegal to sell clothes on a Sunday: ‘Why is that?’
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A New Jersey man took a trip to Walmart, only to find something unusual. All of the clothing in the store was sectioned off, with customers unable to access it. But according to him, it's all part of a certain county's laws.
Jose Rivera (@joselwees) posted a video that received more than 233,000 views. In it, he calls out a strange law in Bergen County, which, according to him, prevents shoppers from purchasing clothing on Sundays.
‘They basically close off all the clothes'
Rivera filmed his video inside a Walmart, which had a closed-off section in accordance with the policy.
“ I'm new to Jersey, so I had no idea about this,” he says. “But [did] you know in Bergen County it's illegal to sell clothes on a Sunday? So in Walmart they … they basically close off all the clothes.”
He pans across an area that sells clothing, further demonstrating its inaccessibility. Employees presumably taped off the area before he filmed.
“Why is that?” he asks.
How do Bergen County's blue laws work?
In Bergen County, home appliance, decor, clothing, and furniture stores typically stay closed on Sundays because of a blue law. Blue laws date back to the late 1600s or 1700s, depending on the source. They generally prohibit the sale of certain items—clothing, appliances, and other nonessentials—on holy days.
Locals have long questioned the ban's continued place in Bergen County.
“Every Sunday it feels like half the county is shut down, and it's super inconvenient if you need to run errands or shop,” one person, who posted to r/bergencounty, said. “[What] about people whose only off day is on a Sunday? I know it's been around forever, but what's the actual point of still having these stupid blue laws in 2025?”
However, others have said the county law helps with traffic. For that reason, many people prefer that Bergen County keep the law as is.
“Y'all really just want to live in traffic don't you? Move back to NYC then, don't take the one day where I can drive up and down 17 without a problem,” a commenter on the same thread added.
What's happening with blue laws in 2026?
Paramus, a borough in New Jersey, is suing the American Dream mall, the borough of East Rutherford, Bergen County, and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority over an apparent violation of Bergen's blue laws. The American Dream Mall reportedly remains open on Sundays despite the county's ban.
Sarah Swan, a Rutgers Law School professor, told NJ Spotlight News that the American Dream mall believes it is exempt from the blue law because it sits on state-owned land. The Sports and Exposition Authority, referred to as “American Dream's landlord” in NJ Spotlight News' reporting, argues that “enforcing Bergen County's blue laws is not within the agency's jurisdiction.”
Bergen County, meanwhile, has asked the court to dismiss the case despite wanting the mall to remain closed on Sundays, per NJ Spotlight News. The lawsuit could determine the fate of other malls in Bergen County that remain open on Sundays.
As of this writing, the lawsuit remains open.
@joselwees
Subplot News reached out to Rivera via TikTok direct message and to Walmart via press form for comment.
The post New Jersey man goes to Walmart. Then he learns the hard way it's illegal to sell clothes on a Sunday: ‘Why is that?' appeared first on Subplot News.
