AIKEN, SC. -- Some are trying to remove the Aiken city blue laws with hopes of bringing more money to the Aiken economy.

Since colonial times, blue laws have prohibited people in Aiken from shopping before 1:30 p.m. on Sundays, unless they’re shopping for groceries, medicine or baby items.

This Sunday, Aiken resident, Angee Tuscano and her two grandsons’s spent most of the afternoon looking for an open store.

"I don't have a lot of time during the week, so Sunday's good for me," Tuscano said.

She was looking for a jewelry store where she could sell some of her old gold jewelry, but didn’t find anything.

“I really expected everything to be open after 1 p.m. or after 1:30 p.m.," Tuscano said.

Although the law only requires stores to remain closed until 1:30 p.m., most stay closed all day long.

The Greater North Augusta and the Greater Aiken Chambers of Commerce are working together to get the Aiken city council to change that and bring in more money.

Aiken residents are divided on the laws.

"The laws are old and outdated," said a worker from the Old Aiken Market, Sandra Zotter

Zotter’s market is not affected by the laws, but she still thinks repealing them is a good idea.

"It's a difficult economy right now, I think it'd be wonderful if we repealed those laws,” Zotter said.

Some people see the good in stores having mandated time off.

"I like to see the clerks have some time off," said Aiken resident, Joyce Bernheim.

Bernheim says she doesn't think changing the law would make much of a difference economically.

"If you need to buy something, you have six and a half days, so what do you need another half a day for?," Berheim asked.

A public hearing about the blue laws will be held July 21.

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