by Guy Page
Today 46 years ago, Vermont shoppers revolted against the state’s blue laws.
A defiant burst of last-minute Christmas shopping marked a turning point in Vermont retail history on this date, December 22, in 1979, when several major stores openly violated the state’s long-standing Sunday “blue laws.”
According to a WCAX report, at the time, Vermont law required most retail businesses to close on Sundays. With only a few days remaining before Christmas, however, large retailers including Gaynes Shoppers World opened their doors anyway, drawing large crowds and the attention of law enforcement.
According to contemporaneous reporting by WCAX-TV, approximately 400 shoppers entered Gaynes Shoppers World within minutes of its noon opening. Shortly thereafter, South Burlington Police Sgt. John Kruger arrived at the store, purchased a single 39-cent candy bar, and issued a citation to the business for violating the Sunday closing statute.
The incident became emblematic of growing resistance to the blue laws among both retailers and consumers, who argued the restrictions were outdated and economically harmful. Rather than complying, Vermont retailers challenged the law in court.
The dispute ultimately reached the Vermont Supreme Court, which in 1982 struck down the Sunday closing law, ruling it unconstitutional. The decision effectively ended blue laws in Vermont and permanently changed the state’s retail landscape, allowing stores to operate seven days a week.
The term “blue laws” may derive from the 1781 book by Samuel A. Peters, which listed strict Sabbath regulations and was printed on blue paper. Another theory suggests that “blue” referred to a rigidly moral stance in a disparaging sense during the 18th century