Man realizes why all the clothes at Walmart are blocked off on Sundays after visiting New Jersey: ‘This is petty’

Walmart has established itself as a one-stop shopping destination, and many have relied on the store for groceries, household goods, electronics, and reasonably priced clothing. But for one man, a visit to a Walmart located in New Jersey had left him feeling confused when he noticed a part of the store was inaccessible to customers.

The incident was shared by Jose Rivera (@joselwees) in a video that has amassed hundreds of thousands of views on TikTok. In the video, Rivera, who described himself as someone “new to Jersey,” gave viewers a glimpse of the clothes section at a local Walmart in Bergen County, which appeared to be deserted and blocked off with retractable belt barriers.

According to Rivera, he learned that the restriction was because of a law specific to the county. “I had no idea about this. But [did] you know, in Bergen County, it’s illegal to sell clothes on a Sunday. So in Walmart, they basically close off all the clothes. Why is that?” Rivera told viewers. He later shared his thoughts on the law, adding in his caption, “Bergen County….This is petty.”

New Jersey county has the Blue Laws

The law Rivera is referring to in his video is the Blue Laws, also known as the Sunday Laws. The practice of the Blue Laws dates back to the 1600s and was heavily influenced by Christian culture, law, and politics, which mandated both Sunday morning and afternoon worship from its residents, according to The Bergen Girl.

While it may seem like an obscure law, Bergen County was not the only place with such a regulation. However, over time, many states and counties have either abolished or amended their Sunday laws.

According to the website of Wyckoff, a township in Bergen County, the Blue Laws, which gained its name because blue paper was used for the original document, do not mean that shopping is completely banned for residents or visitors every Sunday. Rather, non-essential items such as clothing, building materials, household items, furniture, appliances, and electronics are prohibited from being sold on the day.

On the other hand, Wyckoff allows the sale of food, medicine, non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, tobacco, personal hygiene products, emergency products, gas, oil, books, and other publications. The township also allows for recreational activities.

There have been instances when residents attempted to abolish the Blue Laws in Bergen County, such as in 1980 and most recently in November 1993. However, both votes at the time leaned toward keeping the law in place.

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