Working on Sunday
The UK's Shops Act made it illegal to operate a shop on Sunday... unless one was Jewish (since the Jewish observed the sabbath on Saturday). So business owner Mike Robertson figured that to open his stores on Sunday he simply had to make his staff convert to Judaism.
The Shops Act had other oddities. According to the London Telegraph, a shop could stay open if it was "in an officially designated 'holiday resort area'" or if it restricted sales to "certain kinds of perishable goods, like fruit, flowers and vegetables; medical and surgical appliances, newspapers, cigarettes and refreshments."
The Shops Act had other oddities. According to the London Telegraph, a shop could stay open if it was "in an officially designated 'holiday resort area'" or if it restricted sales to "certain kinds of perishable goods, like fruit, flowers and vegetables; medical and surgical appliances, newspapers, cigarettes and refreshments."
Bristol Western Daily Press - Mar 8, 1977
Comments
It's interesting that in 1970s England, it was deemed that Jewish shops could be open on Sunday. It wasn't until the 1990s that a kosher store in Massachusetts, closed on Saturday, was allowed to sell wine on Sunday. The owner told me that before he was allowed to sell wine on Sunday, the state would send in decoy buyers who would claim to have a need to buy wine. He would tell them to go to his house where he'd be happy to give them a free bottle.
Bergen County, New Jersey has blue laws that prohibit the sale of most non-food items. It's not that it's a particularly conservative or Christian place, it's that there are so many malls that the residents want one day of peace and quiet.
Bergen County, New Jersey has blue laws that prohibit the sale of most non-food items. It's not that it's a particularly conservative or Christian place, it's that there are so many malls that the residents want one day of peace and quiet.
Posted by ges on 03/22/24 at 01:04 PM
I agree with Bergen County. Never mind holiness, I need a rest day!
Posted by Richard Bos on 03/23/24 at 09:50 AM
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Category: Business | Law | Religion | 1970s