Today in History, 1972: Fargo merchants oppose proposed new ordinance allowing them to be open Sunday

On this day in 1972, most Fargo merchants opposed a proposed ordinance allowing Sunday shopping, despite competition from Moorhead and the newly opened West Acres. Here is the complete story as it appeared in the paper that day: Merchants Opposed to Opening on Sundays By KEVIN CARVELL Staff Writer Most Fargo merchants oppose a proposed city ordinance allowing them to be open on Sundays. In a poll by The Forum, only grocery supermarkets and some women s apparel stores supported a home rule liberalization of the state law. Arguments that Sunday openings would allow them to be more competitive with West Acres Shopping Center, they said, were balderdash. In August, the first month it was open, West Acres hurt many downtown businesses but sales have since bounced back and are now near or above normal, retailers said last week. To explain the City Commission s unanimous decision Tuesday to prepare a Sunday opening ordinance, Fargo shopkeepers had two dissimilar t