The New Jersey borough of Paramus is suing the American Dream mall for staying open on Sundays, in violation of Bergen County's blue laws.

The lawsuit claims the mall has 120 stores that stay open and it publicly advertises those hours.

Paramus Mayor Christopher DiPiazza said the American Dream is "operating unfairly," and added, "This puts our shopping centers, our malls, our retailers at a disadvantage, an unfair disadvantage, and with that can hurt the taxpayers and the residents that I serve."  

American Dream says it is located on state land, so it's not bound by blue laws, which prohibit the sale of nonessential items, like clothing and furniture. 

What are Bergen County's blue laws?

The restrictions have been in place since the 17th century, but they do make exceptions for things like grocery and drug stores.

"I have been a steadfast defender of Bergen County's blue laws because they protect our quality of life and guarantee retail employees one day of rest," Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco said in a statement, adding, "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."

Even though Paramus' lawsuit is pointing fingers at Bergen County, alleging complicity in American Dream's Sunday sales, Tedesco reiterated Wednesday he agrees that the mall should be closed on Sunday, but added he just doesn't have the power to enforce the restriction.

"Why should they be able to open, and nobody else can open? That's not fair," Tedesco said. "It's not legally right, it's not morally right, and it's certainly against the law."

American Dream responds to lawsuit

Tedesco previously told CBS News New York that the county had reached out to the New Jersey attorney general's office to determine who had the authority to enforce compliance.

American Dream responded, calling the lawsuit "a meritless political stunt driven by private competitor's interest." The mall sits on land owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford.

Shoppers CBS News New York spoke with in January and on Wednesday didn't seem to care and said they appreciated the extra day to shop.

"I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. I don't have a problem with it," Miguel Garcia said.

"People are going to go shopping on a Sunday. Everybody should have a choice where they go shopping, and if this mall is open and it's closer to where I live, that's where I'm going," Mark Levy added.