Bergen County NJ. No shopping allowed on Sunday (2 Viewers)

[Righetti]

Reading the NJ gas thread got me thinking about one law which is beyond ridiculous. So much so that most of you will be shocked to hear that this happens in this country.

See I live in Bergen County Nj and although it is generally a nice place to live we have one ridiculous law which makes you want to pull your hair out. There is no shopping allowed on Sunday. You can get groceries but stores like Target, Macy*s, Bed Bath & Beyond etx are closed by county law.

It's some arcane blue law about Sunday's being a day of rest and is defended as a protection for small shopkeepers but it is completely ridiculous. I have to spend my entire Saturday running errands because you can't get a screw from Home Depot, a new bed from Sleepy's or a pair of socks from the Gap and the stores are ridiculously busy because everybody else is also cramming everything in that day, too.

I wind up drivinf across the state line to RocklandCounty to shop on Sunday, so the Bergen County stores are losing out

 

[belljr]

I wish more stores were closed on sundays

 

[comfortably numb]

Yea, this may have made some sense years ago...when people had horse carriages. Now every 16 year old girl has a car and people can just click and ship for their shopping.

Would be interested to see if these small businesses are actually saved or strengthened by the blue law.

 

[fantasycurse42]

I hope to one day own a home in Alpine, prob a stretch, but doesn't hurt to have those aspirations.

Tenafly is a possibility.

Bergen has a bunch of great towns.

 

[Man In The Box]

I live in Bergen County. I was actually thinking about this dumb law today while waiting for the gas station attendant to return my credit card.

 

[zamboni]

I actually like the stores closed on Sundays in Bergen - cuts down on the God-awful traffic.

And please keep spending money in Rockland.

 

[TLEF316]

Is it weird that I've lived in nj my whole life and had no idea this was a thing?

 

[Fariq]

Is it weird that I've lived in nj my whole life and had no idea this was a thing?

I knew it was a thing and the northernmost county I lived in was Union. I once was in Bergen County on a Sunday.

 

[Flying V]

I never go to a store on Sunday unless I absolutely have to.

Sundays are for doing things I enjoy, and shopping isn't one of those things.

 

[Koya]

If you live in Jersey, you deserve whatever punishment befits america's armpit.

 

[Righetti]

I hope to one day own a home in Alpine, prob a stretch, but doesn't hurt to have those aspirations.

Tenafly is a possibility.

Bergen has a bunch of great towns.

Alpine is just nuts. Most expensive zipcode in the country. Drive through it everyday and still amazed by the size of the mansions

 

[Righetti]

I never go to a store on Sunday unless I absolutely have to.

Sundays are for doing things I enjoy, and shopping isn't one of those things.

But you could go if you had to, we can't.

 

[mquinnjr]

Reading the NJ gas thread got me thinking about one law which is beyond ridiculous. So much so that most of you will be shocked to hear that this happens in this country.

See I live in Bergen County Nj and although it is generally a nice place to live we have one ridiculous law which makes you want to pull your hair out. There is no shopping allowed on Sunday. You can get groceries but stores like Target, Macy*s, Bed Bath & Beyond etx are closed by county law.

It's some arcane blue law about Sunday's being a day of rest and is defended as a protection for small shopkeepers but it is completely ridiculous. I have to spend my entire Saturday running errands because you can't get a screw from Home Depot, a new bed from Sleepy's or a pair of socks from the Gap and the stores are ridiculously busy because everybody else is also cramming everything in that day, too.

I wind up drivinf across the state line to RocklandCounty to shop on Sunday, so the Bergen County stores are losing out

Now imagine we had sites on the internet where you could buy things and have them shipped to your home. Perhaps, if you bought into a membership, they'd ship you an unlimited number of items included in two days or less, and throw in extras like streaming music and video.

 

[Righetti]

I actually like the stores closed on Sundays in Bergen - cuts down on the God-awful traffic.

And please keep spending money in Rockland.

I actually think it causes more traffic on Saturdays. Even if the county allowed it, Paramus wouldn't, so the mall traffic would still all be on Saturday

 

[Righetti]

Reading the NJ gas thread got me thinking about one law which is beyond ridiculous. So much so that most of you will be shocked to hear that this happens in this country.

See I live in Bergen County Nj and although it is generally a nice place to live we have one ridiculous law which makes you want to pull your hair out. There is no shopping allowed on Sunday. You can get groceries but stores like Target, Macy*s, Bed Bath & Beyond etx are closed by county law.

It's some arcane blue law about Sunday's being a day of rest and is defended as a protection for small shopkeepers but it is completely ridiculous. I have to spend my entire Saturday running errands because you can't get a screw from Home Depot, a new bed from Sleepy's or a pair of socks from the Gap and the stores are ridiculously busy because everybody else is also cramming everything in that day, too.

I wind up drivinf across the state line to RocklandCounty to shop on Sunday, so the Bergen County stores are losing out

Now imagine we had sites on the internet where you could buy things and have them shipped to your home. Perhaps, if you bought into a membership, they'd ship you an unlimited number of items included in two days or less, and throw in extras like streaming music and video.

Yes, that's great except if you need something today.

Having laws tell you what days you are allowed to shop is unAmerican

 

[Righetti]

I wish more stores were closed on sundays

If a store wanted to be closed that is their prerogative, just don't force it upon them

 

[Mister CIA]

The northern territory is the land of the White Walkers, right?

 

[Flying V]

I never go to a store on Sunday unless I absolutely have to.

Sundays are for doing things I enjoy, and shopping isn't one of those things.

But you could go if you had to, we can't.

Yeah, that does suck.

Unless, of course, you would happen to work in retail.

 

[mquinnjr]

I agree, but plan your week out to accommodate, or if you're really stuck drive a little to another county if you really need to go shopping on a Sunday.Just an inconvenience at that point, but not a complete barrier.

That law is ridiculous though. Don't go to Europe extended over a weekend if you don't dig this. Nothing but restaurants are open on Sundays. I hated that when I traveled for work if I needed to even pick up necessities or go to a grocery store for something, if you wanted to sight see on Saturday and needed to pick up anything or wanted to go shopping, forget it.

 

[NCCommish]

We had blue laws in Florida when I was a kid. I don't recall it ever being an issue. I think it's fine. Not like you can't get necessities.

 

[Righetti]

Even stores that sell groceries and other thing a have entire aisles that are barricaded off on Sunday's.

You can go to Costco for a case of crackers and a fifty pack of diet pop but you can't buy a hammock

 

[Righetti]

We had blue laws in Florida when I was a kid. I don't recall it ever being an issue. I think it's fine. Not like you can't get necessities.

It's an inconvenience. You have no idea how ludicrous it is to not be able to go to a hardware store on a weekend to pick up something as normal as a snow shovel or a box of nails to hang up a photo

 

[NCCommish]

Even stores that sell groceries and other thing a have entire aisles that are barricaded off on Sunday's.

You can go to Costco for a case of crackers and a fifty pack of diet pop but you can't buy a hammock

There are 6 other days in the week.

 

[njherdfan]

Is it weird that I've lived in nj my whole life and had no idea this was a thing?

My dad took me to the Garden State Plaza once on a Sunday and he remarked what a great parking spot he got. It took us longer than it should have to figure out why the parking lot was so empty

 

[NCCommish]

We had blue laws in Florida when I was a kid. I don't recall it ever being an issue. I think it's fine. Not like you can't get necessities.

It's an inconvenience. You have no idea how ludicrous it is to not be able to go to a hardware store on a weekend to pick up something as normal as a snow shovel or a box of nails to hang up a photo

As I said I lived with these when I was younger. You planned ahead or you waited a day. Not really a big deal.

 

[Righetti]

Even stores that sell groceries and other thing a have entire aisles that are barricaded off on Sunday's.

You can go to Costco for a case of crackers and a fifty pack of diet pop but you can't buy a hammock

There are 6 other days in the week.

But what happens if you have a pipe burst on a Sunday or your shovel breaks and there is snow coming. The fact you aren't allowed to shop by law is my issue.

 

[Righetti]

Is it weird that I've lived in nj my whole life and had no idea this was a thing?

My dad took me to the Garden State Plaza once on a Sunday and he remarked what a great parking spot he got. It took us longer than it should have to figure out why the parking lot was so empty

Clark is that you?

 

[Flying V]

Is it weird that I've lived in nj my whole life and had no idea this was a thing?

My dad took me to the Garden State Plaza once on a Sunday and he remarked what a great parking spot he got. It took us longer than it should have to figure out why the parking lot was so empty

Clark is that you?

Moose outside shoulda told 'im.

 

[Righetti]

We had blue laws in Florida when I was a kid. I don't recall it ever being an issue. I think it's fine. Not like you can't get necessities.

It's an inconvenience. You have no idea how ludicrous it is to not be able to go to a hardware store on a weekend to pick up something as normal as a snow shovel or a box of nails to hang up a photo

As I said I lived with these when I was younger. You planned ahead or you waited a day. Not really a big deal.

It might have felt differently back then because there were probably many other counties/states that had these laws on the books.but for good reason every single state or county in the country has gotten rid of them since the 60's. The only one left in the entire country is Bergen County

You may not have cared then because you didn't realize that it could be a legit option since it probably wasn't any option in the rest of the state but if you were told today that you were not allowed to buy a pair of socks you'd be floored

 

[Flying V]

It's like not being able to buy a bottle of liquor on Sundays in PA.

Not a problem... until you run out!

 

[AcerFC]

Never knew you were so close rags. So you are saying you go to the suffern wal mart on sundays

 

[msommer]

It's like not being able to buy a bottle of liquor on Sundays in PA.

Not a problem... until you run out!

GD Communists

 

[Col. Steve Austin]

Is it weird that I've lived in nj my whole life and had no idea this was a thing?

Yes.

Also very sad.

 

[Michael Brown]

I work in Paramus but it doesn't affect me Monday to Friday, but I live about 20 minutes west of the area. So it affects me on Sunday when everyone and their mother comes shopping in the Essex / Passaic county area since they can't go to Garden St Plaza...

 

[Fat Nick]

Even stores that sell groceries and other thing a have entire aisles that are barricaded off on Sunday's.

You can go to Costco for a case of crackers and a fifty pack of diet pop but you can't buy a hammock

There are 6 other days in the week.

But what happens if you have a pipe burst on a Sunday or your shovel breaks and there is snow coming. The fact you aren't allowed to shop by law is my issue.

Yeah. The hardware stores would get me...I go to Home Depot or Lowes at least once a weekend these days for something. It'd really put a damper on my house/yard work if I couldn't go on Sunday. I'm pretty good about knowing what I need, but sometimes you just need to run out real quick.

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

Even stores that sell groceries and other thing a have entire aisles that are barricaded off on Sunday's.

You can go to Costco for a case of crackers and a fifty pack of diet pop but you can't buy a hammock

There are 6 other days in the week.

That's an ironclad argument for making something illegal.

I think no restaurants should be allowed to be open on Mondays because there are 6 other days a week.

 

[Gamma1210]

Even stores that sell groceries and other thing a have entire aisles that are barricaded off on Sunday's.

You can go to Costco for a case of crackers and a fifty pack of diet pop but you can't buy a hammock

There are 6 other days in the week.

But what happens if you have a pipe burst on a Sunday or your shovel breaks and there is snow coming. The fact you aren't allowed to shop by law is my issue.

Yeah. The hardware stores would get me...I go to Home Depot or Lowes at least once a weekend these days for something. It'd really put a damper on my house/yard work if I couldn't go on Sunday. I'm pretty good about knowing what I need, but sometimes you just need to run out real quick.

Good thing Bergen County is the size of a shoebox.

 

[NutterButter]

Would stink if they had this ridiculous law in morris county. Saturday and Sunday are interchangeable for me. Too many factors like kid commitments and weather to limit yourself to one day for shopping.

 

[RUSF18]

As someone who is perfectly cool with people pumping my gas, yes this law is stupid and those who say "no big deal" are those who just grew up with it and learned that it isn't a big deal.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Even stores that sell groceries and other thing a have entire aisles that are barricaded off on Sunday's.

You can go to Costco for a case of crackers and a fifty pack of diet pop but you can't buy a hammock

Pop? So I gather you are a transplant to NJ then?

Anyway great thread for finding out what FBGs are in my neck of the woods.

Yeah blue laws are a dumb remnant of theocracy now perpetuated more by the nimby spirit (at least in these parts).

They've put a repeal on the ballot a bunch of times but it never wins - largely because of Paramus (home of 3 or 4 gigantor malls).

That said, it clearly does not keep business away - being closed 1/7 of the time hasn't kept folks like IKEA from setting up shop in Bergen.

That said, I like being on the other side of the border from Bergen and not too far from the places on Route 3 that are open.

-QG

 

[QuizGuy66]

I realize that the blue laws are a bigger deal to the Bergen County FBGs because they all live in the rich/northern part of the county of course.

(Southern Bergen is easier, cuz like I said you hope on route 3 and your in Clifton in a jiffy).

The other fun fact about the area is that the 4/17 interchange is so dreaded that chains like Bed Bath and Beyond, etc. can have locations that are literally 1 mile from each other with no overlap in clientele (because there are people who simply refuse to pass through the 4/17 nightmare).

-QG

 

[Righetti]

Even stores that sell groceries and other thing a have entire aisles that are barricaded off on Sunday's.

You can go to Costco for a case of crackers and a fifty pack of diet pop but you can't buy a hammock

Pop? So I gather you are a transplant to NJ then?

Anyway great thread for finding out what FBGs are in my neck of the woods.

Yeah blue laws are a dumb remnant of theocracy now perpetuated more by the nimby spirit (at least in these parts).

They've put a repeal on the ballot a bunch of times but it never wins - largely because of Paramus (home of 3 or 4 gigantor malls).

That said, it clearly does not keep business away - being closed 1/7 of the time hasn't kept folks like IKEA from setting up shop in Bergen.

That said, I like being on the other side of the border from Bergen and not too far from the places on Route 3 that are open.

-QG

actually have lived in Bergen County most of my life (lived in Fort Lee as a kid and now in Cresskill) but was in NYC and Brooklyn for about 15 years between them..

as a kid it never affected me much, maybe it was just 'how it was' and I just didn't know any better but having lived in the city for 15 years it really dawned on me how ridiculous this law is..

 

[Righetti]

Would stink if they had this ridiculous law in morris county. Saturday and Sunday are interchangeable for me. Too many factors like kid commitments and weather to limit yourself to one day for shopping.

this is it for me. my girls have all sorts of sports and activities and they tend to be on Saturday which makes that day really busy if you also have to do your shopping and God Forbid there is a birthday party on a Saturday, you may as well throw any hope of shopping away that entire weekend..

 

[Righetti]

Even stores that sell groceries and other thing a have entire aisles that are barricaded off on Sunday's.

You can go to Costco for a case of crackers and a fifty pack of diet pop but you can't buy a hammock

There are 6 other days in the week.

yes and I work on five of those.. leave for work around 7:30 and not home after 6:30, so not that many options during the week when you have three kids..

so it leaves me two days to do any chores like this..but in Bergen it leaves you with only one because it has been decided that shopping for a pencil on a Sunday is breaking the law

 

[Michael Brown]

I realize that the blue laws are a bigger deal to the Bergen County FBGs because they all live in the rich/northern part of the county of course.

(Southern Bergen is easier, cuz like I said you hope on route 3 and your in Clifton in a jiffy).

The other fun fact about the area is that the 4/17 interchange is so dreaded that chains like Bed Bath and Beyond, etc. can have locations that are literally 1 mile from each other with no overlap in clientele (because there are people who simply refuse to pass through the 4/17 nightmare).

-QG

I work right at the building that sits right on the ramp where 4W dumps onto 17N. Fortunately, I never have traffic because I'm coming from the other direction in the morning, and I leave before rush hour hits. But at Christmas time, holy good God. I gotta get out of here by 3pm or my 20 minute ride home turns into an hour.

Wouldn't even want to imagine it on a Saturday...

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Stupid

 

[QuizGuy66]

Even stores that sell groceries and other thing a have entire aisles that are barricaded off on Sunday's.

You can go to Costco for a case of crackers and a fifty pack of diet pop but you can't buy a hammock

Pop? So I gather you are a transplant to NJ then?

Anyway great thread for finding out what FBGs are in my neck of the woods.

Yeah blue laws are a dumb remnant of theocracy now perpetuated more by the nimby spirit (at least in these parts).

They've put a repeal on the ballot a bunch of times but it never wins - largely because of Paramus (home of 3 or 4 gigantor malls).

That said, it clearly does not keep business away - being closed 1/7 of the time hasn't kept folks like IKEA from setting up shop in Bergen.

That said, I like being on the other side of the border from Bergen and not too far from the places on Route 3 that are open.

-QG

actually have lived in Bergen County most of my life (lived in Fort Lee as a kid and now in Cresskill) but was in NYC and Brooklyn for about 15 years between them..

as a kid it never affected me much, maybe it was just 'how it was' and I just didn't know any better but having lived in the city for 15 years it really dawned on me how ridiculous this law is..

So where did the "pop" thing infect your vernacular?

-QG

 

[QuizGuy66]

I realize that the blue laws are a bigger deal to the Bergen County FBGs because they all live in the rich/northern part of the county of course.

(Southern Bergen is easier, cuz like I said you hope on route 3 and your in Clifton in a jiffy).

The other fun fact about the area is that the 4/17 interchange is so dreaded that chains like Bed Bath and Beyond, etc. can have locations that are literally 1 mile from each other with no overlap in clientele (because there are people who simply refuse to pass through the 4/17 nightmare).

-QG

I work right at the building that sits right on the ramp where 4W dumps onto 17N. Fortunately, I never have traffic because I'm coming from the other direction in the morning, and I leave before rush hour hits. But at Christmas time, holy good God. I gotta get out of here by 3pm or my 20 minute ride home turns into an hour.

Wouldn't even want to imagine it on a Saturday...

Tell me you at least have a window office where you can watch the chaos unfold each day

-QG

 

[Michael Brown]

I realize that the blue laws are a bigger deal to the Bergen County FBGs because they all live in the rich/northern part of the county of course.

(Southern Bergen is easier, cuz like I said you hope on route 3 and your in Clifton in a jiffy).

The other fun fact about the area is that the 4/17 interchange is so dreaded that chains like Bed Bath and Beyond, etc. can have locations that are literally 1 mile from each other with no overlap in clientele (because there are people who simply refuse to pass through the 4/17 nightmare).

-QG

I work right at the building that sits right on the ramp where 4W dumps onto 17N. Fortunately, I never have traffic because I'm coming from the other direction in the morning, and I leave before rush hour hits. But at Christmas time, holy good God. I gotta get out of here by 3pm or my 20 minute ride home turns into an hour.

Wouldn't even want to imagine it on a Saturday...

Tell me you at least have a window office where you can watch the chaos unfold each day

-QG

Nah, our windows are in back of the building so we have a great view of the parking lot

 

[Righetti]

Even stores that sell groceries and other thing a have entire aisles that are barricaded off on Sunday's.

You can go to Costco for a case of crackers and a fifty pack of diet pop but you can't buy a hammock

Pop? So I gather you are a transplant to NJ then?

Anyway great thread for finding out what FBGs are in my neck of the woods.

Yeah blue laws are a dumb remnant of theocracy now perpetuated more by the nimby spirit (at least in these parts).

They've put a repeal on the ballot a bunch of times but it never wins - largely because of Paramus (home of 3 or 4 gigantor malls).

That said, it clearly does not keep business away - being closed 1/7 of the time hasn't kept folks like IKEA from setting up shop in Bergen.

That said, I like being on the other side of the border from Bergen and not too far from the places on Route 3 that are open.

-QG

actually have lived in Bergen County most of my life (lived in Fort Lee as a kid and now in Cresskill) but was in NYC and Brooklyn for about 15 years between them..

as a kid it never affected me much, maybe it was just 'how it was' and I just didn't know any better but having lived in the city for 15 years it really dawned on me how ridiculous this law is..

So where did the "pop" thing infect your vernacular?

-QG

since this stupid blue-law thing seems completely foreign to a few of our southern GB's in this thread, I thought I'd bring it closer to home for them